Spain sends two frigates off the coast of Morocco

On their arrival on Saturday in the autonomous city, the two ships organized an open house day to highlight their power, reports El Debate. Spain has decided to strengthen its military presence in Ceuta and Melilla, in the face of Morocco’s persistent claims regarding the two autonomous cities. The two frigates made a stopover in Melilla, in preparation for their participation in the NATO-led multinational exercise Dynamic Guard, the same source specifies.

On August 25, the high-altitude patrol boat Centinela of the Spanish Navy had also docked at the port of Melilla, where it remained until Sunday, August 27. The populations of the autonomous city had the opportunity to visit the interior of the ship during an open house day, indicated the Defense staff, specifying that this ship is currently involved in presence, surveillance and deterrence operations of the Armed Forces, under the Maritime Operations Command (MOM) in coordination with the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Center (COVAM) of the Navy.

Several deployments had been carried out to maintain a military presence in the two presidios. In late November 2022, the ship Reina Sofía (F-84) was in Ceuta, while Navarra (F-85) and Canarias (F-86) were in Melilla. In January, it was the patrol boat Atalaya, one of the main surveillance units of the Maritime Action Force, which was deployed in this autonomous city, before the arrival in March of the Maritime Action Vessel (BAM) Rayo P-42 at the port of Melilla. The amphibious ship Galicia has also been deployed in the autonomous city.

After the High-Level Meeting in Rabat last February, President Pedro Sánchez had announced that the governments of the two countries had signed "a commitment of mutual respect" in order to avoid offending the other party, especially on all issues affecting their respective sovereignties. But this did not prevent the President of the Moroccan Senate, Enaam Mayara, from declaring in April that Ceuta and Melilla were "occupied" territories that Morocco will eventually recover "without resorting to arms". In late May, Morocco also described Ceuta and Melilla as "Moroccan cities" in a letter addressed to Brussels.