Navy Chief Tells Vox Their Mission Is to “Help and Save” Migrants at Sea, Not Block Them

“On the issue of immigration I will be very clear: the Law of the Sea mandates rescuing migrants if they are in danger.”

Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro, Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy (AJEMA), reiterated on Friday to members of Vox that the Navy’s role is to “help and save” migrants traveling in inflatable boats, canoes and other vessels on their way to Spain, not to return them or block their passage as proposed by Santiago Abascal’s party.

He made these remarks during an informational breakfast organized by the New Economy Forum, responding to Vox leader Javier Ortega Smith, who asked whether he considered it “necessary” to increase the Navy’s presence in the waters of the Strait, Ceuta and Melilla to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

As part of its strategy to curb illegal immigration, Vox has repeatedly suggested deploying the Navy along usual migration routes such as the Strait of Gibraltar or the Canary Islands to block the entry of vessels into Spanish territory. “That cannot be done; we are not meant for that,” Piñeiro said unequivocally.

The Only Mission Is to Help

“On the issue of immigration I will be very clear: the Law of the Sea mandates rescuing migrants if they are in danger,” the AJEMA emphasized, adding that no one should expect a Navy ship to turn migrants away.
“The only mission of the Navy—and of any Western navy—is to help; there should be no doubt about that,” he continued.

The admiral recounted several encounters with migrants and highlighted the “powerlessness” felt by sailors when they cannot assist every person traveling in hazardous conditions. “When faced with a canoe, the only possible attitude is to help,” he underscored.