Més per Mallorca has registered a non-binding motion in Parliament urging the government to open public access to the Puig Major military base where the EVA-7 Air Force base is located and not to renew the defence cooperation agreement with the United States. The spokesperson for the nationalist party, Lluís Apesteguia, explained that this request responds to social concern arising from events such as the offer of the port of Mahón in Menorca to NATO and the anchoring of a US aircraft carrier in the Bay of Palma last month.
Apesteguia stated that ‘international relations should be based on diplomacy’ and not on ‘warmongering or military alliances such as NATO’. The initiative presented by Més also calls for a new referendum on Spain’s continued membership of NATO, as, according to the nationalists, only 14% of the Spanish population would support remaining in the military alliance.
These are some of the demands made by the eco-sovereignists in a non-legislative motion (PNL) registered in the Parliament on peace and against militarisation. The initiative, as indicated by MÉS in a press release, calls on the central government not to renew the defence cooperation agreement with the United States and to prevent any infrastructure on the islands from being used for military purposes related to NATO or foreign armed forces.
Earlier this year, the left wing party United We Can (Podemos) presented a non-binding motion to demand a block on the use of any port in the Balearics by NATO ships, either on a one-off or permanent basis. Unidas Podemos spokesperson Cristina Gómez claimed the majority of citizens of Menorca were against the possibility of using the port of Mahón for this purpose and that the rest of the Balearics felt the same.
Last year the Spanish government said that it had no plans on Mahon becoming a NATO naval headquarters. Left-wing Podemos party leaders expressed their opposition to Mahon becoming NATO’s third naval headquarters in Spain, along with Rota and Cartagena.
- Location: Situated in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains in the northwest of the island. The nearest major town is Sóller.
- Elevation: 1,445 meters (4,741 feet).
- Accessibility: The actual summit is a military zone, housing a NATO radar station, and is off-limits to the general public. A special permit is required for access, which is rarely granted.
- Activities: The area around Puig Major is a very popular destination for hiking and road cycling. The paved road reaches the highest point accessible by the public, around 846-880 metres, just before a tunnel.
- Scenery: The mountain and its surroundings offer spectacular views of the Tramuntana range and the sea. Nearby natural landmarks include the Gorg Blau and Cúber reservoirs, which supply water to the city of Palma.
- Nearby Peaks: The Penyal des Migdia is the second highest peak, and its summit is accessible to the public, offering a great alternative for hikers looking for a panoramic view of the entire island.