NATO Spain Africa USAGM
Metadata
- NATO Spain Africa USAGM
- July 5, 2022
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: NATO SPAIN AFRICA (TV) HEADLINE: Spain Urges NATO to Address Threats From North Africa TEASER: Madrid warns migration could be used as a pressure tactic by ‘hostile actors’ PUBLISHED AT: 7/5/2022 AT 1:06p BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: Alfonso Beato DATELINE: Madrid VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell, Alfonso Beato VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, LR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters, APTN, AFP PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:28 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: VPKGN EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Southern European states, including Italy and Spain, are urging NATO allies to address threats from North Africa. As Henry Ridgwell reports from the Spanish capital, while the war in Ukraine dominates NATO’s agenda, Madrid wants the alliance to prepare for other potential flashpoints.]] ((NARRATOR)) Hundreds of migrants attempted to breach the border fence from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Melilla last month. At least 23 people died. The migrants – mostly from sub-Saharan Africa – are desperate to reach Europe. Many arrive by boat on the Spanish Canary Islands. And Spain fears the pressure on its borders could be about to get worse. Ukraine is one of the world’s top suppliers of grain. The Russian invasion has cut exports by around two-thirds. The United Nations has warned that will exacerbate an already worsening hunger crisis in Africa. Europe is readying for a spike in migration. ((Txema Santana, Migration Adviser to Canary Islands Government MALE IN SPANISH)) “We have been looking at whether there is more movement of people linked to the increase in prices, to the difficulty of these countries in accessing grain and wheat. And what we have been told is that for the moment, there is not, but it is a matter of time.” ((NARRATOR)) Madrid warns that migration could be used as a pressure tactic by "hostile actors.” A resurgent Islamist militancy in parts of the Sahel is also driving migrant flows. Europe says Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group are exacerbating the conflict. ((Jose Manuel Albares, Spanish Foreign Minister - in English)) “It is very clear that the Wagner Company is there and that there are foreign troops in several countries of the Sahel. And definitely it’s not foreign troops that the Sahel needs. What the Sahel needs is development and stability.” ((NARRATOR)) Spain is seeking international help. In March it struck a deal with Morocco to secure a clampdown on irregular migration. Critics accuse Madrid of outsourcing migration policy to a country with a history of human rights abuses. The Moroccan government denies those accusations. At last week’s NATO summit in Madrid, Spain secured official recognition by the alliance of the threats emanating from north Africa. ((Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister – MALE IN SPANISH)) “Which is one of the greatest concerns for Europe and for our country, this is because of the instability and the crisis that come from this: irregular migratory movements, terrorism, food and energy crisis, and the climate emergency.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, NATO and EU forces held exercises in recent days just off the Spanish and North African coasts. Residents of the Spanish town of Tarifa had a front-row view of the drills. ((Tarifa Resident – UNIDENTIFIED – MALE IN SPANISH)) “It is a very unstable area, it is a ticking time bomb, you know what the Maghreb is, anything can come of it, a war, conflict.” ((NARRATOR)) Spain insists it is not calling for any NATO intervention in North Africa – but instead recognition of what it calls “hybrid” threats. ((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News (stand-up version)) “Many NATO members say the lesson from Ukraine is that the alliance needs to be better prepared for future crises. And here, in the south of Europe, allies warn that instability in North Africa could be the next big problem." ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, Madrid.))
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: NATO SPAIN AFRICA (TV) HEADLINE: Spain Urges NATO to Address Threats From North Africa TEASER: Madrid warns migration could be used as a pressure tactic by ‘hostile actors’ PUBLISHED AT: 7/5/2022 AT 1:06p BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell CONTRIBUTOR: Alfonso Beato DATELINE: Madrid VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell, Alfonso Beato VIDEO EDITOR: SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, LR VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters, APTN, AFP PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: 3:28 VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath TYPE: VPKGN EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Southern European states, including Italy and Spain, are urging NATO allies to address threats from North Africa. As Henry Ridgwell reports from the Spanish capital, while the war in Ukraine dominates NATO’s agenda, Madrid wants the alliance to prepare for other potential flashpoints.]] ((NARRATOR)) Hundreds of migrants attempted to breach the border fence from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Melilla last month. At least 23 people died. The migrants – mostly from sub-Saharan Africa – are desperate to reach Europe. Many arrive by boat on the Spanish Canary Islands. And Spain fears the pressure on its borders could be about to get worse. Ukraine is one of the world’s top suppliers of grain. The Russian invasion has cut exports by around two-thirds. The United Nations has warned that will exacerbate an already worsening hunger crisis in Africa. Europe is readying for a spike in migration. ((Txema Santana, Migration Adviser to Canary Islands Government MALE IN SPANISH)) “We have been looking at whether there is more movement of people linked to the increase in prices, to the difficulty of these countries in accessing grain and wheat. And what we have been told is that for the moment, there is not, but it is a matter of time.” ((NARRATOR)) Madrid warns that migration could be used as a pressure tactic by "hostile actors.” A resurgent Islamist militancy in parts of the Sahel is also driving migrant flows. Europe says Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group are exacerbating the conflict. ((Jose Manuel Albares, Spanish Foreign Minister - in English)) “It is very clear that the Wagner Company is there and that there are foreign troops in several countries of the Sahel. And definitely it’s not foreign troops that the Sahel needs. What the Sahel needs is development and stability.” ((NARRATOR)) Spain is seeking international help. In March it struck a deal with Morocco to secure a clampdown on irregular migration. Critics accuse Madrid of outsourcing migration policy to a country with a history of human rights abuses. The Moroccan government denies those accusations. At last week’s NATO summit in Madrid, Spain secured official recognition by the alliance of the threats emanating from north Africa. ((Pedro Sánchez, Spanish Prime Minister – MALE IN SPANISH)) “Which is one of the greatest concerns for Europe and for our country, this is because of the instability and the crisis that come from this: irregular migratory movements, terrorism, food and energy crisis, and the climate emergency.” ((NARRATOR)) Meanwhile, NATO and EU forces held exercises in recent days just off the Spanish and North African coasts. Residents of the Spanish town of Tarifa had a front-row view of the drills. ((Tarifa Resident – UNIDENTIFIED – MALE IN SPANISH)) “It is a very unstable area, it is a ticking time bomb, you know what the Maghreb is, anything can come of it, a war, conflict.” ((NARRATOR)) Spain insists it is not calling for any NATO intervention in North Africa – but instead recognition of what it calls “hybrid” threats. ((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News (stand-up version)) “Many NATO members say the lesson from Ukraine is that the alliance needs to be better prepared for future crises. And here, in the south of Europe, allies warn that instability in North Africa could be the next big problem." ((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, Madrid.))
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date July 5, 2022 14:12 EDT
- Byline Henry Ridgwell
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America