Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defined what happened in Ceuta as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” In his own words: “What has happened is an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity and deserves our most resounding and energetic condemnation.” The problem is that he tells the truth — but Spain does not dare to say that it is Morocco that has violated that territorial integrity. There are many theories about why this took place, but I think we can all agree that this was a coordinated action. Sebta and Melilla are Moroccan. They sit on our land — that is a historical fact, and no amount of denial changes it.
Two points should be taken into consideration:
- Spain and the United Kingdom recently removed the physical border fence at Gibraltar and scrapped routine land checkpoint controls.
- At the same time, voices inside the European Union have been discussing the imposition of tariffs on the automotive industry, electric vehicles, and lithium batteries.
Morocco is waging hybrid warfare: not only by the controlled movement of people, but also by building two of the largest ports in the Mediterranean — Tanger Med and the Nador West Med port — to maintain continuous economic pressure on the two tiny enclaves of Sebta and Melilla. Morocco’s message is clear. If we wanted to exert pressure on the Moroccan cities of Sebta and Melilla, we would not even need a single bullet. The simplest and most lasting solution is for Spain to return Ceuta, Melilla, and the Chafarinas Islands to the Kingdom of Morocco.
In previous incidents we mainly saw sub-Saharan migrants attempting to break through. This time they were not the majority. There will be no lasting security for the European Union, and no sustainable end to irregular migration, as long as Ceuta and Melilla remain under Spanish control. Addressing the root causes requires political courage, not only higher fences. Returning these two cities to their rightful country — Morocco — would open the door to a more stable and cooperative future based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.
Spain and the hypocritical European Union have received the message. Morocco wants a larger share in cooperation, trade, and partnership — one built on genuine respect and shared interests. As Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said a few years ago, and the words remain just as relevant today:
“Morocco is not destined to be Europe’s gendarme, nor its concierge!”