Moroccan Navy's Incursion into Ceuta Waters
In a significant development, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that the Royal Moroccan Navy entered the waters of Ceuta on the 30th and 31st of July, coinciding with a massive influx of migrants into the autonomous city. This revelation came during an informal discussion with journalists on the eve of the National Day reception. While Sánchez did not disclose the reasons behind the naval presence, he described those days as "very intense and very difficult," indicating that there was high-level communication between the armed forces of both countries.
According to reports from El País, these incursions by the Moroccan Navy occurred without authorization in Spanish territorial waters. The situation prompted Spain to deploy a maritime action vessel, which docked in Ceuta on August 3rd. Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense fortified its presence in the area by sending the frigate Santa María, which was later replaced by the Navarra due to mechanical issues.
Escalating Tensions in the Strait
Sources familiar with the events have indicated that Moroccan naval maneuvers continued throughout the early days of August, escalating tensions to the point where military vessels nearly collided with Spanish patrol boats. These actions have been characterized as a "deliberate violation" of Spanish sovereignty. José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the Mayor of Madrid, has raised questions regarding the Moroccan authorities' awareness of both the surge in migrant arrivals and the military vessels' presence. He contended that the incursion of warships was a more severe issue than the migrant crisis, drawing connections between the two incidents.
Furthermore, Almeida suggested that Morocco might possess compromising information about Sánchez, stating, "One of the things that I aspire to with a change of government is to understand what Morocco knows about Sánchez." This statement underscores the complex interplay of military actions and political dynamics surrounding the migrant crisis in Ceuta.
As reported by apuntmedia.es.
