Sant Jordi residents win: Defense will not build the powder magazine in Son Sant Joan
State sources confirm that the project will finally be shelved after strong criticism from residents and politicians.
PalmAfter months of intense controversy, which prompted citizens, institutions, and pacifist groups to demand explanations and alternatives, the Ministry of Defense has finally backed down and withdrawn plans to build a large ammunition depot at the Son Sant Joan air base (Palma), a project that had alarmed residents of Sant Jordi. According to sources close to the Air Force and the Ministry, the original idea of equipping this facility with an ammunition storage capacity of 75,000 kg of material such as bombs and missiles has been suspended, and other locations outside the base are now being considered. The project—which had already been awarded and included in a plan to modernize Spanish military logistics—had drawn considerable opposition, especially from residents of Casa Blanca and Sant Jordi, due to its proximity to urban areas and Palma's civilian airport, Spain's third busiest airport for passenger traffic.
An intense political and institutional debate
The controversy erupted when both the Balearic Islands Government and the Palma City Council complained that they had not been informed beforehand about the project, pointing to a lack of institutional transparency and "disloyalty" in the management of decisions that directly affected the security and public space of Mallorca. Parties like MÁS per Mallorca demanded the cancellation of the works, arguing that the installation posed an unacceptable risk to the public and that Mallorca could not become "a military platform" without an open and participatory debate. The Balearic Islands Government admitted that they had learned of the project through the press. The fact that it was a military installation and that it was planned within airport grounds allowed the State to begin the procedures without even informing local and regional authorities, something that was also heavily criticized by left-wing parties and residents. Peaceful voices and citizen mobilization in Palma
Alongside the political pressure, civil society organized discussions and events to debate the project's effects. Local residents had already expressed their concerns to the government, the city council, and state institutions. The Platform for Peace had repeatedly stated that "the militarization of public space and the implications of installing weapons infrastructure near civilian areas" were unacceptable. These voices emphasized Mallorca's strong pacifist tradition.
An unexpected turn of events and the future of the project
Finally, Defense Minister Margarita Robles had already left open the possibility that the works might not even begin, following strong social and political reactions. And so it was: today the Ministry of Defense decided to withdraw the Son Sant Joan project and study other locations, possibly outside of Mallorca, for this type of infrastructure.
