Feijóo demands tougher response to Morocco after naval incidents off Ceuta

“Spain has no master.” Alberto Núñez Feijóo chose this phrase on Friday, 16 October, in Toledo, to warn Morocco and denounce the attitude of Pedro Sánchez’s government. The People’s Party leader believes Morocco’s actions in recent months have crossed the limits of what is acceptable. He promises a “calm and firm” response if he comes to power, reports El País.

On Bladi.net : Sánchez Confirms Moroccan Warships Entered Ceuta Waters, Says Tensions Have Eased

The conservative leader criticizes Madrid for its “silence” and “resignation” in the face of what he considers repeated violations of Spanish sovereignty. “A nation that aspires to be respected must start by earning respect,” he told attendees at a gathering devoted to rural women.

Feijóo is no longer content with denouncing the situation. In a post on the social media platform X, he called on Sánchez to deploy the Spanish navy in the waters off Ceuta, summon Morocco’s ambassador in Madrid and recall Spain’s ambassador in Rabat for consultations. He also demands explanations from the Moroccan authorities at the highest level and that the Spanish public be informed immediately.

“Spain is not for sale. Spain defends itself,” he wrote. The PP leader believes incursions by Moroccan military vessels are not an isolated incident but a “repeated aggression.” He nevertheless says he wants to preserve cooperation between the two countries, provided it is based on mutual respect.

Madrid denies new Moroccan incursion

The remarks come after reports of the standoff between the Moroccan and Spanish navies near Ceuta during the migration crisis on 30 and 31 July. A frigate and several Moroccan patrol boats had entered waters claimed by Spain without prior authorization, according to El País. Madrid then deployed its own military vessels to stop the incursions.

A new episode is now fueling the controversy. According to the daily ABC, a Moroccan patrol boat allegedly spent several hours in Ceuta’s waters on Thursday, 15 October, the day after King Felipe VI’s visit to the city. The newspaper says the vessel remained in the area for seven hours before a Guardia Civil patrol intervened.

But the Spanish authorities dispute this account. Guardia Civil sources told the EFE news agency that they had recorded no such incursion. The government also maintains that neither the Guardia Civil nor the Spanish navy reported a new incident after the events in July.

On Bladi.net : Spain Tracked Moroccan Navy Communications Near Ceuta but Withheld Reports

Pedro Sánchez takes a different approach. On 12 October, he acknowledged the incursions by Moroccan vessels, while stressing that exchanges between military officials had resolved the crisis. For Spain’s prime minister, relations with Rabat remain essential, particularly in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. His government accuses Feijóo of stoking tensions with a strategic partner.

The PP leader is now calling for Sánchez to appear before the Congress’s standing committee to explain the events of the summer. His party has also submitted information to the National High Court, which is investigating the Ceuta migration crisis. Feijóo accuses the government of concealing important information from the Spanish public and wants answers about how the incidents were handled.