La Vanguardia newspaper reported on Monday that Spain will be hosting Europe's first joint military exercises this fall.

The drills will be coinciding with Spain's presidency of the Council of the European Union which is set to begin on July 1, the report noted.

About 1,600 troops from 18 different EU states will partake in the exercises which will be held in the water of the Gulf of Cadiz and at the Sierra del Retino military training base in the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia.

The drills will involve air, naval, and land units, the report added.

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In March 2022, the EU countries agreed to issue the bloc's first common defense and security framework for the next 10 years which they titled Strategic Compass.

As per the document, the EU must be able to address emerging crises both independently and with allies.

Within this framework, the Strategic Compass provides a European rapid reaction force made up of 5,000 troops. 

EU members must also carry out joint exercises on a regular basis at both sea and land, boost military mobility, and deepen civilian and military operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Spain will be assuming for the fifth time this year the rotating presidency of the EU Council from July 1 to December 31. 

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