USS Gerald R. Ford Arrives Off Palma for Multi-Day Stop

Overview

• The nuclear-powered carrier anchored in the Bay of Palma on Friday and is slated to remain until about October 8.
• Roughly 4,500 personnel began going ashore in stages, with 20 coaches and taxis mobilized to move service members across Mallorca.
• Left-wing parties including Podemos, Més and Izquierda Unida condemned the stop, and Podemos leader Ione Belarra called on the Spanish government to block it.
• Businesses in Palma and Magaluf stocked up and rolled out welcomes for expected spending, with some local estimates putting the potential impact near €10 million.
• The Sixth Fleet deployment began with a June departure from Norfolk, included NATO exercises and a Gibraltar transit, and features a 100,000‑ton-class carrier designed to operate up to 75 aircraft using electromagnetic catapults.