Spain Battles Widespread Wildfires with EU Military Support

Spain is facing a severe wildfire crisis with numerous active fires, particularly in the north and Extremadura regions, prompting the deployment of nearly 2,000 troops, including reinforcements from France, Italy, the Netherlands, and other European countries. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared disaster zones and warned of continued difficult hours despite some improvement in conditions, emphasizing the urgent need to recalibrate the country's climate emergency response and prevention strategies. The wildfires have burned 373,000 hectares and resulted in four deaths, underscoring the escalating impact of climate change on Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. Sánchez has called for a non-partisan, sustained approach to the climate emergency that transcends political terms, proposing a state pact to ensure coordinated and lasting policies. In addition to Spain, other Southern European countries like Greece and Portugal are also severely affected by heatwaves and wildfires, with Europe experiencing its hottest summer on record and widespread environmental damage. The scale of the fires has triggered the largest deployment of the EU firefighting force ever, reflecting the continent-wide challenge posed by this climate crisis.