Spanish king to visit disputed enclaves, testing Morocco ties after border crisis

Spanish King Felipe will pay a visit to the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla this month, according to sources within the royal household. This trip could exacerbate the already tense relations between Madrid and Rabat following a recent border crisis. The royal visit, scheduled for October 13 and 14, will mark King Felipe's first time visiting the enclaves during his 12-year reign. The planned trip occurs just over two months after an estimated 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco in late July.

Morocco has historically opposed Spanish royal visits to Ceuta and Melilla, two strategically important cities over which the country claims sovereignty and considers them to be under its control. Spain, however, views the outposts as integral parts of its territory. King Felipe, as the ceremonial head of state, has generally stayed silent on the Ceuta crisis since it began, with the first public mention being a praise for civil protection workers two weeks ago.

During a state visit to Spain by French President Emmanuel Macron, King Felipe only briefly commented on the crisis, stating that European countries should have shown more solidarity with Madrid and calling the situation in Ceuta "unacceptable." Morocco's foreign ministry has yet to comment on the planned royal visit.

Spain's political debate surrounding the border surge has largely focused on Morocco's involvement in the crisis. Opposition parties have accused Moroccan officials of either complicity or inaction, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has faced criticism for being too lenient towards Rabat. Initially, Sanchez praised Morocco for its cooperation in repatriating the migrants and consistently denied that Rabat had orchestrated the crisis.

However, he later told CNN that Moroccan border controls had failed during the migrant rush. Morocco has denied any lack of control, blaming the situation on social media disinformation, human traffickers, and a potential misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling that allowed for sea arrivals.