The arrival of the U.S. destroyer USS John Basilone at Naval Station Rota in Cádiz has completed the expansion from four to six missile-defense ships permanently deployed at the facility. The reinforcement stems from an agreement reached by Spain and the United States in 2022 during the NATO Summit in Madrid.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles attended the ship’s welcome ceremony on October 15, 2026. The new vessel, designated DDG-122 and arriving from Mayport, Florida, has a crew of 300 U.S. sailors and joins NATO’s missile-defense system in southern Europe.
The USS John Basilone is part of Destroyer Squadron 60. Spain’s Navy, through the 41st Escort Squadron, serves as the host unit under the two countries’ bilateral training cooperation.
Under this arrangement, each U.S. destroyer is paired with a Spanish frigate. In this case, it will be the Numancia, with which it will hold command-level exchanges, conduct joint exercises at sea, and carry out training activities involving MH-60R helicopters. The cooperation also includes support services and management of the firing ranges in the Gulf of Cádiz.
The Defense Ministry said the deployment will strengthen operational and training capabilities, while also generating activity related to the ship’s logistics and maintenance. During the ceremony, Robles highlighted cooperation between Spain and the United States both bilaterally and within NATO.
