Spanish royals make sensitive visit to crisis-hit Ceuta

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez disclosed on Monday that Moroccan naval vessels had intruded into Spanish waters near Ceuta without authorization following a massive migrant influx in late July, as per state broadcaster TVE. Sanchez downplayed the occurrences, describing them as isolated, and emphasized the significance of Spain-Morocco relations.

In late July, over 72,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta, triggering a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis that persists, exacerbating political tensions in Spain as it gears up for early elections on November 29. According to El Pais, citing unnamed sources, at least one frigate and several patrol boats from the Royal Moroccan Navy entered Spanish sovereign waters without permission after the migrant surge.

A Spanish frigate was compelled to intercept Moroccan warships to prevent them from infringing upon Spanish waters. Sanchez, speaking to TVE, acknowledged that such isolated incidents can occur between neighboring nations but stressed that cooperation between the navies remains seamless, despite the incident. He affirmed that Spain-Morocco relations are of utmost importance.

The remarks were made on the cusp of a visit by King Felipe and Queen Letizia to Ceuta, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, which could further inflame tensions between Spain and Morocco. Rabat asserts sovereignty over Ceuta, alongside Spain's other enclave, Melilla. The government did not respond to a Reuters inquiry for comment; the Moroccan foreign ministry could not be reached for comment promptly.

Morocco's King Mohammed stated on Friday that the migration cooperation model with Spain had reached its limits, criticizing Spanish court rulings that hinder the repatriation of minors and asylum seekers as obsolete. Although most migrants returned in the weeks following the crossing, thousands remained.