# Spain-US military cooperation at Rota Naval Base

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spain-us-military-cooperation-at-rota-naval-base
> Updated: 2026-09-10T07:13:15.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

King Felipe VI of Spain and United States officials gathered at the Rota Naval Base in Cádiz to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The ceremony included a floral offering by the King and the U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Benjamín León Jr., accompanied by flyovers from both Spanish and American aircraft.

The event underscored the enduring military cooperation between the two nations, noting that the 2001 attacks led to the first invocation of NATO’s Article 5 and subsequent Spanish military involvement in Afghanistan. While political tensions exist between the governments of Pedro Sánchez and Donald Trump regarding migration management and military base usage, cooperation at the Rota facility remains steady, supported by significant ongoing investment and infrastructure projects.

## Claims

- King Felipe VI participated in a ceremony at the Rota Naval Base to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Captain Charles A. Chmielak, commander of the U.S. naval station in Rota, spoke during the ceremony. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Benjamín León Jr., participated in the commemoration and delivered remarks. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Donald Trump promised to use all of the United States' power to prevent another attack similar to the September 11 attacks. (single source)
- Donald Trump stated that Tehran will not possess a nuclear weapon. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-10: Felipe VI and U.S. officials commemorate 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

King Felipe VI and U.S. officials commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Rota Naval Base, while Donald Trump vowed to use all U.S. power to prevent future terrorism.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/felipe-vi-and-us-officials-commemorate-25th-anniversary-of-911-attacks

### 2026-09-07: King Felipe VI to attend 9/11 anniversary ceremony at Rota Naval Base

King Felipe VI will attend a joint US-Spanish military ceremony at the Rota Naval Base to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/king-felipe-vi-to-attend-911-anniversary-ceremony-at-rota-naval-base

---
Cite as: Spain-US military cooperation at Rota Naval Base. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spain-us-military-cooperation-at-rota-naval-base