El Rey, en Melilla: “Estamos preparados para defender nuestros valores y libertades”

King Felipe VI voiced his stance yesterday in Ceuta, and reiterated the message on Wednesday in Melilla: the autonomous cities are non-negotiable parts of Spain. The warning emerged following the influx of over 80,000 individuals from Morocco via the Tarajal border on July 30th and 31st, heightening tensions in Ceuta and prompting heightened vigilance in Melilla.

No official statements have been issued from Morocco regarding the royal visit. The left-wing alliance, which gained eight seats in the latest legislative elections, released a statement questioning the presence of the Spanish monarch in the "occupied" cities of Ceuta and Melilla, expressing surprise at the official silence from the Moroccan government in the face of a "provocative act" originating from Spain.

Moroccan security forces staged a large presence near the Ceuta border on Wednesday to prevent a planned gathering near the autonomous cities, according to local sources. Along the coastal promenade, officers spaced themselves every 200 meters to the border. Similar deployments were observed along the hills flanking the route, with access to the international crossing blocked by control points with water cannons and anti-disturbance vehicles.