Spain Joins Maritime and IT Coalitions to Support Ukraine
6 September, 2024 Illustrative photo on the topic: Spanish Navy. Photo from the Facebook page of the Spanish Navy Spain joined the IT Coalition and the Maritime Coalition to provide defense capabilities for Ukraine.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles has already approved Spain's accession to these two coalitions. The Maritime Coalition to help Ukraine was created by the UK and Norway in 2023. It aims to provide long-term support to Ukraine, including training, equipment, and infrastructure to strengthen security in the Black Sea.
The Maritime Coalition works closely with the Ukrainian Navy and the Ministry of Defense to develop a range of capabilities.
Representatives of the Navy of the UK, Norway and Ukraine. Photo credits: ArmyInform
This includes the rapid development of naval forces in the Black Sea, and the continued development of Ukrainian marines and river patrol vessels to protect coastal and inland waterways. As part of this coalition, Ukraine received two Sandown-class minehunters, 20 Viking amphibious vehicles, and 23 raiding vessels.
The aim of the IT Coalition is to support the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the field of IT, communications, and cybersecurity. Coalition members allocate funds for cybersecurity projects of the Defense Forces. The IT Coalition was created under the leadership of Estonia and Luxembourg.
"Technology can help turn positional warfare into maneuver warfare. The IT Coalition aims to provide the necessary digital basis for the deployment of any new technological solutions," said Kateryna Chernohorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization. 
In May, it became known that the IT Coalition led by Estonia and Luxembourg raised EUR58 million.
As previously reported, Margarita Robles also reported that Spain will immediately send a full HAWK air defense system battery to Ukraine.
At the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in the Ramstein format, Margarita Robles also spoke in detail about the processes of preparing new aid packages.