On October 12, 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed reports of Moroccan military vessels entering the waters of Ceuta, an incident first highlighted by Spanish media. During a press conference at the Royal Palace in Madrid, coinciding with Spain's National Day celebrations, Sánchez acknowledged this episode of heightened tension between the maritime forces of Spain and Morocco but downplayed its severity, stating, "Such events occur between neighboring countries." He noted that the incursions took place during a significant migration crisis back in July, corroborating details revealed by the daily newspaper El País.

Sánchez described the days surrounding the incident as "very intense," marked by military tensions and interactions between the two nations' naval forces. He confirmed that high-level discussions were held between the Spanish and Moroccan navies to resolve the situation, insisting that the dialogue had been smooth and asserting that similar incidents had not recurred since then. However, this portrayal diverges sharply from accounts provided by Spanish military sources, who reported multiple incursions, the deployment of frigates, and maneuvers that nearly led to a collision.

Sánchez Defends Relations with Morocco Amid Tensions

Despite the concerning nature of the incidents, Sánchez refrained from directly blaming Morocco, emphasizing the critical importance of bilateral relations, particularly regarding collaborative efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. He stated, "We aim to build, not to destroy," implicitly addressing the criticisms from the conservative opposition in Spain. This response came as a surprise, given that Sánchez had previously not mentioned these naval incidents in his parliamentary discussions about the Ceuta crisis. He had acknowledged in September that Moroccan forces allowed migrants to cross into Ceuta for ten hours but stopped short of attributing the organization of the massive arrivals to Rabat.

Furthermore, Sánchez did not clarify why the military episode had not been disclosed earlier. According to statements collected by RTVE, he maintained that cooperation with Morocco remains essential, despite the summer's tensions. These comments come just before the planned visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Ceuta on October 13, followed by a trip to Melilla the next day. Sánchez believes that this royal visit should be regarded as a normal event in two Spanish cities.

As reported by bladi.net.