Spain Reaffirms Sovereignty Over Ceuta and Melilla Despite Morocco Tensions

Spain has "a deep and varied relationship" with Morocco, but this does not exclude the fact that there are issues on which our positions diverge, such as those relating to the sovereignty of the autonomous cities," the Spanish government said in its written response to questions from some senators from the PP and Vox parties, adding that "the will of the two governments is to deal with these divergences with respect."

At the end of December, the Head of the Moroccan government, Saadeddine El Othmani, had declared that Ceuta and Melilla "are Moroccan like the Sahara." This statement had raised questions from senators who reproach Morocco "for its lack of cooperation on drug trafficking and immigration" or "the unilateral delimitation of the waters near the Canary Islands" or even "the economic blockade imposed on Ceuta and Melilla in order to stifle them."

The Spanish government assured that it had "reacted to this statement according to the diplomatic practices provided for in this type of circumstances", and that "due to their geographical proximity, the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla are a key element in the neighborhood relationship between Spain and Morocco."