A Russian Sukhoi Su-25 fighter plane lands as it arrives at Iraq's al-Muthanna military airbase at Baghdad airport, in Baghdad, July 1, 2014. Iraq's defence ministry said on Tuesday that the second batch of Russian Sukhoi (Su-25) fighter jets th
IN PHOTO: A Russian Sukhoi Su-25 fighter plane lands as it arrives at Iraq's al-Muthanna military airbase at Baghdad airport, in Baghdad, July 1, 2014. Iraq's defence ministry said on Tuesday that the second batch of Russian Sukhoi (Su-25) fighter jets that arrived in Baghdad will be used to back Iraqi troops that continue to battle Islamic State militants, previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in the country's northern provinces. Reuters/Stringer

The U.S. military is set to get a permanent presence in Spain. This follows an upcoming deal between the U.S. and Spain, by which the latter will offer a permanent U.S. military presence at a southwestern base to accommodate the U.S. rapid reaction force.

Approved by Spain's Cabinet on May 29, the pact allows the U.S. to station up to 3,000 troops at the Morón Air Base from the current 850. Consequently, the number of aircraft at the base will also go up from 14 to 40. The agreement will be signed when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visits Madrid on 31 May for two days. The 1988 bilateral agreement had mandated annual renewal of the U.S. presence at the base. The new agreement needs the ratification of Spain's Parliament.

Tri-region Focus

Explaining the deal, Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the aim of the pact is to “contribute to the stability of the region and common security in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.” The base has been in joint use by Spanish and the U.S. air forces since 1953.

From the Spanish military base, the U.S. rapid reaction military force will keep a tri-region focus to plan quick responses to escalations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Under the deal, the U.S. troops at the base near Seville will be able to launch missions to protect their embassies, rescue its citizens and intervene in conflicts besides offering humanitarian assistance, reports BBC.

So far, accords permitting U.S. presence had to be renewed annually under a bilateral agreement signed in 1988. The Deputy PM also said the base will remain Spanish and the U.S. would need Spanish permission for all unilateral missions. To refurbish the base, the U.S. has pledged 26 million euros (US $29 million) as infrastructural investment at the base, which will be a welcome boost for the local economy.

Strategic Importance

Isaac Bigio, a political commentator from London commented that the bases are primarily for stepping up U.S. patrolling in Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and the Middle East. Also, southern Spain is quite strategic and relatively secure from attacks by terrorist organisations. For America, the bases will make things easy to keep a tab on Libya and make quick interventions in Iraq other parts of the Middle East.

(For feedback/comments, contact the writer at k.kumar@ibtimes.com.au)