Javier Solana
In 1982, the year Spain became a member of the Alliance, the Minister of Culture Dr Javier Solana argued against NATO membership and the stationing of American military bases in the country. Little did he know that 13 years later, he would become one of the most skillful negotiators and dedicated Secretaries General to have headed the Alliance. In fact, his nomination coincided with Spain’s participation in NATO’s integrated military structure in 1996.
Javier Solana became the 9th Secretary General in December 1995 at a crucial time for the Organization. NATO had just completed its first use of military force in Bosnia and tensions ran high in the region. The Partnership for Peace programme was still in its infancy and there were talks of expanding NATO membership. Yet, Solana demonstrated he had the skills to steer NATO through these turbulent times. Within days of taking up his responsibilities, NATO deployed its first peace-keeping mission since the end of the Cold War – the NATO-led multinational Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia.