The Canarias 16th Brigade deploys operational patrols on the islands of La Gomera and Lanzarote

• These activities are carried out within the framework of Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD) carried out in areas of national interest

Military personnel from the Field Artillery Regiment —part of the Canarias 16th Brigade and based in the municipality of La Laguna on the island of Tenerife— are conducting land patrols on the island of La Gomera. The purpose of these patrols is to reinforce surveillance and protection, deter criminal acts and guarantee the security of land areas under national sovereignty on the island. Likewise, with the aim of strengthening relations with the civilian population, an exhibition of the unit's tasks and equipment for these OPVD missions has been held at an educational centre of the island.

In addition, military teams from the Soria 9 Infantry Regiment, based in Puerto de El Rosario (Fuerteventura), are deployed on the island of Lanzarote, also to carry out this type of mission, which also allows them to gain a more accurate knowledge of the terrain. On this occasion, during one of their land patrols in the town of Corralejo, a patrol from Soria 9 had to attend to an injured person and administer first aid until the local emergency services arrived.

These activities in the Canary Islands are part of the Permanent Operations, one of the main contributions of the Armed Forces to National Security in times of peace. These missions underline their commitment to the comprehensive defence of the territory and their ability to anticipate any eventuality that could compromise stability.

The deployment not only allows for effective surveillance of the environment, but also facilitates greater knowledge of the terrain and the social reality of the island. In addition, it promotes the integration of the military into the local community and strengthens the bond between the Armed Forces and the civilian population.

Lieutenant General Julio Salom Herrera, head of the Army's Canary Islands Command, is also the Commander of the Land Operations Command (CMOT). In this position, he is responsible for planning presence and surveillance operations not only in the Canary Islands, but also in Ceuta, Melilla and the Balearic Islands, maintaining constant coordination with the relevant civil and military authorities.

The Land Operations Command and OPVD

Presence, surveillance and deterrence operations are an effective tool for maintaining surveillance of national sovereign spaces, enabling early detection of threats and facilitating an immediate and viable response to a potential crisis.

In this general context, the Land Operations Command (MOT  in Spanish), with its headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and subordinate to the command of the Chief of Defense, is the Armed Forces body responsible for planning, conducting and monitoring all these permanent operations in its area of responsibility: the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and the Balearic Islands.

Together with the MOM, the Maritime Operational Command (MOM in Spanish), Air Operational Command (MOA in Spanish), Space Operational Command (MOESPA in Spanish) and Cyberspace Operational Command (MOC in Spanish) make up the Permanent Command structure. Every day, some 850 military personnel from the Armed Forces are involved in permanent operations, which are carried out under the operational control of the Operations Command.