Morocco maintains stance on Ceuta despite Spanish tensions

A former Spanish ambassador to Morocco has warned that Rabat will not abandon its territorial claims over the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which have recently become the center of a political storm in Spain and Europe.

The remarks come after at least 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, a small Spanish city in North Africa, in late July. This unprecedented influx has reignited a long-standing territorial dispute that has simmered for decades.

Jorge Dezcallar, a former director of Spain’s intelligence services and ambassador to Morocco from 1997 to 2001, emphasized that Morocco’s claims over Ceuta and Melilla remain firm. He suggested that these unresolved tensions may have contributed to the surge in migration, with Rabat possibly testing Madrid’s resolve during a period when it perceives the Spanish government as weakened.

The left-wing government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has faced mounting challenges, including corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials and close allies. Its progressive immigration policies and vocal criticism of the United States have also strained relations with key European partners.

The shifting dynamics of Spain-Morocco relations

Dezcallar described the relationship between Spain and Morocco as volatile and emotionally charged, marked by sharp fluctuations rather than steady progress. Despite these tensions, the two nations remain deeply interconnected through trade and critical cooperation in areas such as migration control, counterterrorism, and regional security.

Mounting pressure from Rabat

Moroccan officials and state-aligned media have increasingly highlighted the country’s sovereignty claims over Ceuta and Melilla, territories that have been under Spanish control for centuries—long before Morocco’s emergence as a modern state.

Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi reiterated this stance in recent remarks, stating, “This issue is always on the table. Every time we meet with the Spanish, we raise it.” He added, “We remain firmly rooted in our territories. It is a matter we will resolve through negotiation and with patience.”

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles swiftly responded, declaring, “Let there be no doubt: Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish, and they are non-negotiable.” She made the statement during a visit to Ceuta, a rare high-level trip that some observers interpreted as an attempt to ease tensions with Morocco.

Interestingly, King Felipe VI of Spain has never visited Ceuta or Melilla, and a Spanish foreign minister made the first-ever official visit to the enclaves in modern democratic history just this week—a move seen by some as a conciliatory gesture toward Rabat.

The role of migration networks

Both Madrid and Rabat have attributed the recent migrant surge to human trafficking networks exploiting a July ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court, which blocked immediate deportations of migrants arriving by sea to Ceuta and Melilla. Dezcallar, however, suggested there may have been “at least some level of permissiveness or negligence” on the part of Moroccan authorities.

Growing concerns over future threats

The former ambassador also expressed concerns that Spain lacks the capacity to prevent further influxes, noting that this is not the first time such incidents have occurred. He recalled a 2021 diplomatic rupture when Spain allowed the hospitalization of Sahrawi leader Brahim Ghali, which Rabat responded to by facilitating the arrival of nearly 10,000 migrants in Ceuta—a move described by Robles as “blackmail.”

Dezcallar cautioned that Spain cannot afford to ignore the warnings, stating, “One mistake can be forgiven, but not two.” He pointed to prior alerts from Ceuta authorities about a gradual rise in irregular arrivals in the days leading up to the surge.

Intelligence sources recently warned of a potential new migrant influx into Ceuta on August 15, as calls to storm the city spread across social media. Police and Civil Guard unions have also confirmed the threat. Dezcallar’s final warning was unequivocal: “Anyone who thinks Morocco will abandon its claims on Ceuta and Melilla is mistaken.”