Ever wonder what goes on behind those walls? We are standing before the Ministerio de Defensa. It is the Ministry of Defence of Spain. It shoulders the responsibility of planning defense policy. It develops and executes the government’s guidelines on defense. The Ministerio de Defensa also manages the military administration. It serves as the administrative and executive body of the Spanish Armed Forces.
Let’s delve into the history of this critical institution. The ministry’s origins can be traced back to November 30 1714. Back then, it was known as the Secretariat of the Universal Dispatch of War. Over time, the ministry evolved through various forms. It finally took shape as the Ministry of Defence on July 4 1977.
The King is the Commander in Chief of the Spanish military. This is according to the Constitution of 1978. The King can declare war or make peace. But he needs authorization from the Cortes Generales. Also the Prime Minister must countersign the act.
The Ministerio de Defensa is headed by the Minister of Defence. This person is a Cabinet member. They report directly to the Prime Minister. Beneath the Minister are five principal departments. These include the Armed Forces. The Chief of the Defence Staff or JEMAD heads the Armed Forces. The JEMAD is divided into three military branches. Each branch has its own Chief of Staff. There is the Army the Navy and the Air Force.
The Secretariat of State for Defence also falls under the ministry. A Secretary of State heads this. The Undersecretariat of Defence is another key department. The Ministry’s Under-Secretary leads this. Then there is the General Secretariat for Defence Policy. It is led by the Secretary-General. The National Intelligence Center or CNI also reports to the Ministry of Defence. The current Minister of Defence is Margarita Robles.
The first military departments had their headquarters at the royal residence. This was first in the Royal Alcázar. It was there from 1714 to 1734. Later, they moved briefly to the Royal Palace of Buen Retiro. This was in 1734. They eventually settled in the Royal Palace. This was when its construction finished.
Due to lack of space, they relocated in 1826. They moved to the Palace of Marqués de Grimaldi. A fire in 1846 forced another relocation. Only the Ministry of the Navy stayed in that Palace. The Ministry of War moved to the Buenavista Palace in 1847.
In 1915, a new headquarters was built for the Ministry of the Navy. This was due to the poor state of the Grimaldi Palace. The Ministry of the Air Force was created in 1939. By the 1950s, it occupied its own palace in Moncloa Square.
In 1977, the new Ministerio de Defensa was created. It was headquartered in the Palacio de Buenavista until 1981. That year, all central services moved. They moved to a large building on Paseo de la Castellana 109. This building belonged to the Ministry of Culture. Previously, it housed the Ministry of Information and Tourism. It still remains there today. The other three palaces became the general headquarters of the Army branches.
In 2018, the National Intelligence Centre returned to the department’s structure. Paz Esteban López became its first female director in 2020. In September 2024, a new Directorate-General for Strategy and Innovation of the Defense Industry was created. This shows the continued evolution.
The Ministerio de Defensa continues to adapt. It addresses modern challenges. It is located at number 109 Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. It stands as a testament to Spain’s commitment. It is committed to national security and defense.