Spain draws a red line as Morocco revives sovereignty claims over Ceuta and Melilla

Spain has rejected Morocco's latest push to discuss the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, saying the status of the two North African enclaves is not open for negotiation.

• Spanish officials emphasised that any attack on the enclaves would be seen as an attack on Spain as a whole.
• Morocco's Justice Minister reiterated the country's claim over the territories, expressing hope for eventual resolution through dialogue.
• The dispute follows a recent surge of migrants crossing into Ceuta, resulting in dozens of deaths and raising tensions.
• Ceuta and Melilla, located on Morocco's northern coast, are key EU land borders and frequent points of migrant crossings into Europe.

Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles made the position clear after Morocco's Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi reiterated Rabat's long-standing claim over the territories in an interview with Asharq TV.

Ouahbi said Morocco regularly raises the status of Ceuta and Melilla in discussions with Spain and wants the issue to eventually be resolved through dialogue.

The comments were the first public push on the territorial dispute since a major border crisis in late July, when an estimated 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, one of the largest surges since the 2021 crisis. At least 96 people died during the latest border rush.

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Spain says its territory is not negotiable

Robles, speaking in Ceuta, said the enclaves were not simply Spanish but "super-Spanish" and could not be challenged. She added that any attack on Ceuta or Melilla would be considered an attack on Spain as a whole.

Spain's Foreign Ministry reinforced the position, saying the country's territorial integrity "has not been, and will never be, discussed with anyone."

Ceuta and Melilla sit on Morocco's northern coast and are the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Their location has made them important routes for migrants seeking to enter Europe, while their status has remained a longstanding source of tension between Madrid and Rabat.

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Morocco tightens border security

Morocco has regarded both territories as occupied since gaining independence from France in 1956 and argues that sovereignty should eventually pass to Rabat. Spain, meanwhile, considers the enclaves integral parts of its territory, with Spanish control dating back centuries.

Despite the dispute, Madrid has praised Morocco's cooperation in dealing with the recent migration crisis and has blamed people-smuggling networks for the surge.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said Wednesday that it had increased security around the borders after online calls for another mass crossing attempt on August 15. It warned that organisers and participants could face prosecution and urged Spain to speed up the return of unaccompanied Moroccan minors in Ceuta.