Felipe VI Says Ceuta’s Status as Spanish Is “Not Negotiable”
The King of Spain did not choose his words at random. Speaking from Ceuta, whose sovereignty Morocco claims, Felipe VI said Tuesday that the city’s belonging to Spain was “indisputable.” He also called on Rabat to maintain relations based on trust and mutual respect.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country are not negotiable: they are indisputable.” Felipe VI made the statement on Tuesday, October 13, from Ceuta, just a few kilometers from Moroccan territory. Speaking before local officials and civil society representatives, the Spanish monarch defended Ceuta and Melilla’s place in his kingdom, adding that Spain had a duty to preserve its territorial integrity in the face of any threat.
On Bladi.net : Felipe VI to Visit Ceuta and Melilla After Years of Spanish Government Concern Over Morocco’s Reaction
The remarks gave a particularly political dimension to a visit that had been anticipated for nearly twenty years. Accompanied by Queen Letizia, Felipe VI was greeted by a crowd waving Spanish flags and chanting, “Long live Spain!” The last visit by a Spanish monarch to the two cities was in 2007. Juan Carlos I’s visit at the time sparked a diplomatic crisis with Rabat, which recalled its ambassador to Madrid.
The Spanish king was fully aware of the sensitivity surrounding his visit. For years, Madrid had feared Morocco’s reaction to the royal visit. This time, Felipe VI chose to publicly affirm Spain’s position while also sending a message to its neighbor.
Felipe VI calls on Morocco to act in “good faith”
In his official speech published by the Spanish Royal Household, Felipe VI said Spain and the European Union wanted to maintain good relations with Morocco. But he set out his conditions: cooperation based on trust, mutual respect and “good faith on both sides.”
The monarch also gave his remarks a European dimension. “Ceuta is Spain, and Ceuta is Europe,” he insisted. For Felipe VI, any threat to the city is also a threat to the European Union, whose solidarity he called for in protecting its borders.
The context makes these statements particularly sensitive. On July 30 and 31, more than 70,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco, triggering an unprecedented crisis in Ceuta. Just hours before the royal visit, Madrid had also confirmed that Moroccan military vessels had entered waters claimed by Spain during those events. The day before, Pedro Sánchez had acknowledged that the two navies had held talks at the highest level to defuse tensions.
On Bladi.net : Spanish and Moroccan Warships Nearly Collide Off Ceuta
Felipe VI also called for people who had entered Spain irregularly to return to their countries of origin “as soon as possible,” in accordance with legal procedures. He stressed the need to ensure they were treated with dignity and humanity during their stay in Spanish territory. Earlier that day, the royal couple had paid their respects at the Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery, where victims of the July migration crisis are buried.
The king also promised Ceuta’s residents that they would not be abandoned by the Spanish state. After stating that sovereignty over the two cities could not be negotiated, he will continue his visit in Melilla on Wednesday, another territory claimed by Morocco.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmTVB74GeJk
