Navy monitors Russian ships in the Canary Islands

The BAM ‘Meteoro’ and the patrol vessels ‘Vigía’ and ‘Serviola’ contribute to collective deterrence

Spanish Navy vessels have monitored, over the past week, the transit of several Russian Federation units through maritime areas of national interest, as part of the Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD).

The high‑endurance patrol vessel ‘Vigía’ sailed from its base at the Puntales Naval Station to relieve the patrol vessel ‘Serviola’ in tracking Russian units that were transiting from the eastern Mediterranean to the Atlantic via the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar. ‘Vigía’ maintained monitoring until the ships left the waters of national interest.

At the same time, the Maritime Action Ship (BAM) ‘Meteoro’ was deployed to locate and follow another Russian vessel in the waters of the Canary archipelago, where ‘Meteoro’ conducted continuous tracking for more than 360 nautical miles across the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The commander of the BAM ‘Meteoro’, corvette captain Alejandro Fraga Pardo de Guevara, highlighted the mission’s significance.

“It is a source of pride for the crew to contribute to collective deterrence in the archipelago. Our work guarantees the integrity of the territory and prevents conflicts through a credible presence at sea.”

Tracking foreign units is a routine task for the Armed Forces, which operate continuously to ensure control of strategic spaces. These actions, carried out in accordance with international law, reinforce surveillance in sensitive areas and demonstrate the Navy’s ability to ensure that naval activities in our vicinity unfold without incidents.

These missions, integrated within the Maritime Operational Command (MOM) and under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS), guarantee permanent maritime security and situational awareness.

Maritime Operational Command and OPVD

The Maritime Operational Command (MOM) is the operational arm of the Armed Forces, subordinate to the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), and responsible at its level for planning, conducting and monitoring presence, surveillance and deterrence operations in maritime spaces of sovereignty, responsibility and national interest. It is commanded by the Maritime Action Admiral (ALMART), Vice Admiral Vicente Cuquerella Gamboa, and is headquartered in Cartagena.

Within the MOM, various Navy vessels carry out Presence, Surveillance and Deterrence Operations (OPVD) under the operational control of the Operations Command. These operations are an effective tool for maintaining vigilance over sovereign and interest areas, enhancing maritime situational awareness, contributing to comprehensive protection—alongside other state institutions—and enabling early threat detection and a swift, viable response to potential crises.

Alongside the MOM, the Land (MOT), Air (MOA), Space (MOESPA) and Cyberspace (MOC) Operational Commands form the Permanent Commands structure. About 850 Armed Forces personnel are involved daily in permanent operations, which are conducted under the operational control of the Operations Command.