Cartagena civilians swear allegiance to Spain alongside S-81 submarine

More than 500 civilians participated in a public ceremony to swear allegiance to the Spanish flag, the Constitution, and the Crown in the port of Cartagena. Held at the Muelle de Alfonso XII, the event featured the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine as a backdrop, marking the 175th anniversary of the birth of Isaac Peral.

The ceremony was co-presided over by Cartagena Mayor Noelia Arroyo and Admiral Alejandro Cuerda, the head of the Arsenal. During the proceedings, participants reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values, including liberty, justice, equality, and the separation of powers. The event also commemorated the tricentennial of the creation of Spain’s maritime departments.

In addition to formal military honors such as gun salutes and the national anthem, the ceremony included a memorial tribute to fallen service members and an offering to the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of the Spanish Navy.