In a significant diplomatic move, King Felipe VI of Spain is set to visit the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla this month, territories that Morocco claims sovereignty over, as confirmed by sources from the Royal Household on Thursday. This visit, scheduled for October 13 and 14, marks the monarch's first trip to these contentious areas during his 12-year reign and comes shortly after a summer crisis that saw over 72,000 migrants enter Ceuta from Morocco in late July.
Historically, the Moroccan government has expressed strong opposition to visits by the Spanish royal family to these cities, which it views as occupied territories. Conversely, Madrid maintains that Ceuta and Melilla are integral parts of its territory, having been under Spanish control since the 15th and 17th centuries, respectively. Despite his ceremonial role as head of state, Felipe VI has largely refrained from publicly addressing the Ceuta crisis until now, having only recently commended the civil protection personnel working in the enclave.
During an official dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting Spain for a state function, Felipe VI voiced concerns about the situation in Ceuta, deeming it "unacceptable" and calling for greater European solidarity with Madrid. This stance underscores the escalating tensions in Spanish-Moroccan relations, particularly in light of the ongoing political discourse in Spain surrounding the mass influx of migrants. The opposition parties have accused the Moroccan authorities of complicity or inaction, while they have criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for being too lenient with Rabat.
Initially praising Morocco for its cooperation in repatriating migrants, Sánchez has recently shifted his tone, acknowledging in a CNN interview that Moroccan border controls failed during the recent crisis. Morocco, on its part, has denied any negligence, attributing the influx to misinformation spread through social media, the actions of human traffickers, and a misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling that seemed to create a legal loophole for maritime arrivals.
As reported by es-us.noticias.yahoo.com.
