Naval Station Rota, also known as "the gateway to the Mediterranean," was established in 1953 following the signing of an agreement for facilities use between the United States and Kingdom of Spain with construction on the base beginning in 1955.

Located near the Strait of Gibraltar and at the halfway point between the United States and Southwest Asia, Naval Station Rota is a strategic focal point for U.S. and Allied forces. The enduring partnership between U.S. and Spanish forces aboard Naval Station Rota is indispensable to the safe and secure refueling, rearming, resupplying, and repairing of U.S. and NATO forces operating in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Installation areas of cooperation with the Spanish Armada include port operations, air operations, installation security, logistics, installation infrastructure, and multi-national training. The strategic significance of Naval Station Rota is underscored by the five Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers homeported on the base, representing an important link in the NATO Integrated Air and Missile defense infrastructure.

Naval Station Rota is located on a 6,100-acre Spanish base situated on the Bay of Cadiz between the towns of Rota and El Puerto de Santa Maria.  Four entry gates - Rota, Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto and Fuentebravia - are operated by Spanish security forces, and security inside the base is jointly conducted by both Spanish and U.S. Navy security teams. Naval Station Rota and its more than 40 tenant commands comprise approximately 7,000 Americans within a 25-mile area. Of those, more than 3,500 are active duty representing all services, nearly 3,000 are family members, and more than 500 are U.S. civilian employees. Additionally, there are some 300 U.S. military retirees in the area.
 

Commander, Naval Activities (COMNAVACT) Spain is headquartered in Rota and serves as the area coordinator for all U.S. Naval Activities ashore in Spain and Portugal. COMNAVACT Spain also serves as the commanding officer of Naval Station Rota. The commander reports directly to Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa Central, headquartered in Naples, Italy. COMNAVACT Spain also provides quality of life support to Morón Air Base and National Support Elements in Madrid and Valencia, Spain and Lisbon, Portugal.