In addition to the 12,000 military personnel undertaking operations in Spain, there are more than 2,300 men and women on different overseas missions. Of this latter group, 63% belong to the Army, 23% to the Navy and 10% to the Air Force; 3% to the Common Defence Corps and 1% to the Guardia Civil.
The Operations Command (Spanish acronym: MOPS) runs operations in Spain and overseas and maintains the military forces deployed in 11 countries on three continents (Cape Verde, Senegal, Lebanon, Bosnia Herzegovina, Somalia, Djibouti, Mali, Central African Republic, Gabon, Iraq and Afghanistan) plus in four maritime zones (North Sea, Gulf of Guinea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean).
In addition to the missions taking place overseas, there are other missions being carried out by our Armed Forces to protect spaces of national interest: air, land, maritime and cyberspace, on a permanent basis 365 days a year. In addition, there are other operations to support the State law enforcement agencies and those undertaken to maintain the security and well-being of citizens in the event of a natural disaster.
A major effort at security
Our contingents carry out their missions within the framework of the United Nations (UNIFIL), the European Union (Althea, Atalanta, EUTM Somalia, EUCAP Nestor, EUMAM RCA, EUTM Mali, EUNAVFOR Sophie), NATO (Resolute Support, Active Endeavour, Operations of the permanent naval forces of NATO), in coalition (Inherent Resolve), bilateral missions with France and military cooperation with Senegal, Cape Verde and with the countries in the Gulf of Guinea, in addition to national surveillance and security operations (in maritime, defence and air operations, and in cyber-defence) and emergency actions.
These missions significantly contribute to the international security and domestic security of the countries where they are deployed, and to cooperation in improving the capabilities of their armed forces through training and advisory activities, presence on the ground and peacekeeping, and in the fight against terrorism and illegal trafficking.
In order to perform their duties, our military personnel have more than 200 vehicles and land-based equipment; one amphibious vessel, three frigates, four maritime action vessels, one minesweeper and one submarine; together with two transport planes and three maritime surveillance planes.
Pool Moncloa