José Manuel García-Margallo on the Ceuta Invasion and Moroccan Relations
José Manuel García-Margallo, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, recently appeared on _Es Noticia_ at **esRadio** to discuss the ongoing situation in Ceuta, a Spanish city that experienced an unprecedented influx of 80,000 illegal immigrants from Morocco just a month ago. When questioned about whether the government led by Pedro Sánchez has made its red lines clear to Morocco, García-Margallo emphatically stated, "absolutely not," expressing his disdain for ministers who have labeled the regime of King Mohamed VI as a "reliable partner" following the invasion. He believes such statements create confusion regarding the true nature of Spain's relationship with Morocco.
Margallo elaborated on the long-standing pattern of Spain being responsive to the wishes of Rabat, detailing two significant recent events: the massive invasion of Ceuta and a contrasting action taken on August 15, which he interpreted as a stark warning from Morocco. The underlying message, he explained, is that Morocco is signaling Spain to comply with its demands to avoid further invasions. Margallo stated, "It is very clear: either you do what we want, or we will open the gates for another invasion. If you comply, we will cooperate, and there will be no invasion."
Concerns Over Migration Blackmail and Government Weakness
García-Margallo attributed this perceived submission to Morocco to what he described as the "weakness" of Sánchez's government. He noted that the government's attempts to absolve Morocco coincide with concessions made to separatist parties that support the current administration, highlighting its vulnerability. He stated, "This extraordinary weakness is evident to anyone who attempts to blackmail us, and they are increasingly gaining advantages."
Margallo expressed his belief that Spain is being blackmailed through the threat of migration invasions in both Ceuta and Melilla, suggesting that such actions create a spectacle that undermines governmental authority. He posed a rhetorical question regarding how Spain would respond if a similar situation occurred, implying that the reaction would be vastly different if the roles were reversed with Britain and Gibraltar. He lamented how Spain's borders are being violated without a robust response, a scenario he deemed intolerable for any government.
Further discussing the government's mishandling of international relations, particularly in contrast to Morocco's strengthening ties with the United States and Israel, Margallo stated, "If the government demonstrates determination, it can recover its standing fairly quickly. While reputation is lost more rapidly than it can be regained, it is indeed possible, but only with a government that understands its priorities and Spain's role in the world, as well as its natural allies. It is essential to re-engage with the Maghreb region and rebuild alliances with all parties involved."
When asked if Morocco was aware of the invasion, García-Margallo answered unequivocally in the affirmative, citing Morocco's effective intelligence services that closely monitor the population. He highlighted an online movement encouraging the takeover of Ceuta, which coincided with a Supreme Court ruling that altered the application of immigration laws, noting that such significant movements would not escape the attention of Moroccan intelligence. He asserted that Moroccan intelligence likely informed their Spanish counterparts of the situation, emphasizing the mutual interest in collaboration given the presence of a substantial Moroccan community in Spain.
Despite this, Margallo questioned why the Spanish government has remained silent on the matter, especially considering the clear evidence that Morocco was not only aware of the planned invasion but may have also encouraged it. He speculated that there could be compromising information related to the government, potentially linked to surveillance efforts like Pegasus, suggesting that the Spanish government may be attempting to appease the United States amidst tensions with former President Donald Trump.
As reported by libertaddigital.com.
