CIA Warns of Rising Tensions Over Spanish Territories Claimed by Morocco

In a document published in 2022 and cited by Huffpost, the CIA had addressed the issue of territorial and maritime conflicts between Spain and Morocco in these terms: "Morocco protests Spain’s control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, the Peñón de Alhucemas islands and the Chafarinas islands, and the surrounding waters." The two countries also claim sovereignty over the Perejil (Leila or Parsley) islet, it is specified.

The American intelligence service also indicated that "discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation, setting limits on resource exploration and the prohibition of refugees, since Morocco’s rejection in 2002 of Spain’s unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands," adding that "Morocco is one of the main departure zones for illegal migration to Spain from North Africa."