Spanish Navy sergeant loses NATO secret access after concealing marriage

Spain’s National Intelligence Centre (CNI) has revoked a Navy sergeant’s security clearance after he failed to disclose his marriage to a Russian national and the acquisition of Russian citizenship, according to a report by El País.

The decision, which removes the serviceman’s access to classified NATO Secret information, was upheld by Spain’s National Court. The sergeant, an electronic warfare specialist who served aboard a submarine, was found to have concealed significant changes in his personal circumstances, which clearance holders are required to report.

According to the court ruling cited by El País, the serviceman allegedly stated that he “would ask not to participate” in a hypothetical armed conflict with Russia if Spain were to join it. The court said this raised doubts about the “commitment [of the sergeant] to Spain.”

The ruling is not final. The serviceman’s lawyer told the newspaper that an appeal will be filed with the Supreme Court.

The clearance revocation was ordered on February 6, 2025, by CNI Director Esperanza Casteleiro after internal checks identified a “conflict of interest” and risks to the “protection of classified information.” Investigators found that the sergeant had married a Russian citizen in Türkiye in December 2023 without informing authorities.

The report added that the serviceman, who originally held Ukrainian citizenship before acquiring Spanish nationality, also failed to disclose that he had obtained Russian citizenship.

In his legal challenge, the sergeant argued that holding Russian citizenship — which, according to his lawyer, he renounced after the start of the proceedings — does not in itself demonstrate disloyalty to Spain.

By Tamilla Hasanova