The Mahón naval station is one of the Spanish bases participating in 'Operation Sea Guardian' of the Atlantic Alliance (NATO), focused on understanding the maritime environment to deter and fight terrorism, as well as mitigate other threats. .
Sources from the Ministry of Defense have confirmed to Europa Press that Menorca is one of the multiple capabilities that Spain offers to NATO. In this sense, it is common for Alliance ships to call at this port.
According to Defense, the operation, active since 2016, "aims to develop robust knowledge of the maritime environment, combining networks, based on sensors and non-sensors, with a reliable exchange of information and connectivity between allies and all organizations related to the environment maritime".
From the General Staff of the Defense it is reported that Spain's mission within the operation includes up to four departures per month of a maritime patrol plane, a submarine in a period of 35 days, a high-altitude patrol vessel ready to go out into the sea in 48 hours on request and a command ship with an embarked General Staff available to lead punctually.
The operation is under the operational command of the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), Northwood (United Kingdom). MARCOM serves as a maritime security information clearinghouse for the Alliance.
In statements to IB3 Ràdio, reported by Europa Press, the mayor of Mahón, Héctor Pons, indicated that visits by ships in NATO maneuvers are "recurrent" and that it constitutes a "strategic place."
"In no case, I want to highlight, we are not talking about us entering into any type of conflict, but rather the facilities of the port of Mahón are used to attend to these ships, if they have a breakdown, refuel or any issue," Pons specified.
The mayor added that he hopes that the actions carried out in Mahón "are peace missions and to resolve conflicts in the Mediterranean."
