The Canary Islands houses 22 years later the parade of the Armed Forces Day | Spain

Thousands of people have attended the traditional land and air parade this Saturday to celebrate Armed Forces Day (DIFA 2025) In the streets of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, an act that the Kings, Felipe VI and Letizia have presided. 3,266 members of the Army of Earth have participated at the stop, The Navy, the Army of the Air and Space, the Military Emergency Unit, Royal Guard and the Civil Guard, including 425 women.

It is the third time that the Armed Forces Day is celebrated in the Islands. The last time they paraded in the Canary Islands was in 2003, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (A much more reserved act due to the death of 62 military in Yak 42 that brought them from Afghanistan). Santa Cruz de Tenerife hosts the central act for the second time. The previous one was in 1986when the now king participated as a cadet knight of the General Military Academy.

The monarchs have been accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles; The Chief of the General Staff of the Defense (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, and the president of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Clavijo, among other civil and military authorities present there.

The kings have arrived at the gallery at 11.30 am, received with applause from the attendees. Subsequently, Felipe VI – dressed with the Navy’s gala uniform – has reviewed the Honor Battalion. Both he and the queen have shown act immediately to the authorities-among them the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska-to give way to the paratrooper jump on the esplanade in front of the royal gallery installed in front of the Adán Martín Auditorium. Without setbacks. It should be noted that the acrobatic patrol of paratrooper of the Air and Space Army (Papea) has carried out its jump carrying the 10th anniversary flag of the King’s proclamation.

Seven C-101 aircraft of the Eagle Patrol, familiarly known as CulopollosThey opened the exhibition by drawing the Spanish flag in the air. 45 aircraft have participated, a dozen less than those planned due to the profusion of low clouds despite the heat day in the capital of Tenerife. Models such as the Eurofighter, F-18, Harrier or the Aspa Patrol helicopters also flew.

After the aerial exhibition, it was the turn of the land parade, formed by the different units of the armies of land, air and space, and the Navy, next to the Civil Guard and other security forces such as the military emergency unit, very applauded for its participation in different emergencies, Like 2023 summer fires. This segment was headed by the Royal Guard, accompanied by Leopard armored, Pizarro combat cars or off -road trucks. In total, there were 67 vehicles and 33 motorcycles. On this occasion, the legion – represented by the Third Duke of Alba 2nd– paraded with a male goat of a year and a half called Shrimp, of the Florida race, which, according to the dosier facilitated by the armed forces, is characterized by « her brown fur with white spots. »

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, congratulated this Saturday, on the Day of the Armed Forces, “to all the men and women who dedicate their lives to the service of Spain”, to whom they thanked their work for building a country and a safer and more stable world.  » Sánchez has written in a message on social network X.

This has not been the only act held in the Canary Islands on the occasion of DIFA 2025. On Friday, hundreds of people attended several exhibitions of different units in La Plata de las Alcaravaneras, in the Bay of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in an act that King Felipe VI and Minister Margarita Robles also presided, in which a thousand military and agents of the Civil Guard have participated. Attendees could see the submarine S-81 Isaac Peralwhich for the first time has participated in an act of these characteristics.

For the rest of the national territory, a total of 263 complementary activities have been organized: 55 military acts, 10 sports activities, 26 concerts, eight conferences, 83 exhibitions, 73 visits or open -door days, among other proposals. Outside the national territory, the activities will amount to 38, according to Europa Press.