A deal that would create a permanent Marine base in Morón, Spain, may come to fruition this year.
Spanish newspaper El Pais reported Monday the Pentagon wants an agreement for Marines already operating there with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa to be permanently stationed, Military Times reported Friday.
The letter from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel seeks an agreement that will allow as many as 3,000 U.S. troops to be stationed at the base, the Times reported. U.S. military personnel have used the base through bilateral agreements for decades.
“We have nothing new to release on Spain at this time,” Air Force Lt. Col. Vanessa Hillman, a spokeswoman for the office of the defense secretary, told the newspaper when asked about Mr. Hagel’s letter. The existence of the letter was neither confirmed or denied.
The Marines Corps’ current deal for housing troops at the base expires in April, the Times reported.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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