The Balearic Islands Operational Command will begin this Monday, December 15, a new deployment of military units in Ibiza and Formentera with the aim of increasing the presence, surveillance and protection of the island territory.
The operation will last until Friday, December 19 and is the third deployment carried out in 2025 as part of the so-called Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD), which are carried out permanently throughout the territory of sovereignty and national interest.
During these days, members of the platoon and section of the Infantry Regiment Palma 47, based in Palma de Mallorca, will carry out patrols and reconnaissance both on foot and motorized in different parts of Ibiza. These actions are aimed at improving the surveillance of the environment, reinforcing security and increasing the knowledge of the terrain, a key aspect before a possible intervention in support of the civil authorities and the State Security Forces and Corps.
From the operational point of view, this type of activations allows the Armed Forces to have updated and accurate information of the environment, which is essential to provide a quick and effective response to any risk or crisis situation. Likewise, the deployment contributes to intensify the presence of the Army in all the islands of the Balearic archipelago and to strengthen the direct contact with the local population.
VDPOs, a key tool for security
Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations are a tool to ensure permanent surveillance of national sovereignty areas. These operations aim to detect possible threats in advance and facilitate an immediate and viable response to risk scenarios.
These operations are directed by the Land Operational Command (MOT), with headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and under the command of Lieutenant General Julio Salom Herrera. This body is responsible for planning, conducting and monitoring the OPVD in its area of responsibility, which includes the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and the Balearic Islands.
The MOT operates under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS), headquartered in Madrid and reporting to the Defense General Staff. This command is responsible for planning and directing the permanent operations of the Armed Forces in all domains – land, maritime, air, space and cyberspace – and for coordinating the various specialized operational commands.
