What Morocco Was Saying to Spain in Ceuta
The migrant crisis has underscored Madrid’s increasingly tenuous geopolitical position.
Morocco's refusal to yield on Ceuta has plagued Spain's relations with its North African neighbor. With the recent influx of roughly 70,000 migrants crossing, the situation became chaotic. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, known for his criticism of the United States and Israel, displayed a different stance with Morocco. He labeled the crossings as a violation of Spain's territorial integrity, yet he did not mention who had attacked Spain.
Sánchez's political standing and past conflicts make his position on Morocco puzzling. In the past, he played hardball with other global powers, but with Morocco, he seemed to fold. The Ceuta crisis of 2021, where Morocco used migrants as leverage, echoes the current situation. Sánchez's response to this current crisis contrasts sharply with his actions in 2021, where he restored full relations with Morocco after a decade of strained ties.
The issue of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony occupied by Morocco, adds another layer to this complex relationship. Spain's backing of self-determination for Western Sahara over Morocco's claims has led to tensions with other countries like Algeria. Sánchez's recent decision to collaborate with Morocco on migration issues may be seen as a shift in policy, but the underlying issues remain unresolved.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.