Spain sends a warship off the coast of Morocco

The Galicia (L-51) is an impressive ship, with its 160 meters in length and 13,000 tons in displacement. Its main mission is to deploy marine infantry in any conflict zone or site of a natural disaster. As a floating hospital, it can provide all kinds of medical assistance. The ship had visited the autonomous city on April 2, 2020 to provide health support during Covid-19.

For several years, Morocco has constantly claimed the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla which it considers Moroccan. For its part, Spain does not miss any opportunity to reaffirm its sovereignty over these presidios, however deploring Morocco’s policy aimed at economically stifling the two cities. The kingdom has closed the commercial customs office in Melilla since August 2018, recalls El Debate.

In addition to Ceuta and Melilla, Morocco’s territorial claims also concern the Chafarinas Islands, the island of Alboran, the rocks of Al Hoceima and Velez de la Gomera. In such a context, Spain is concerned about Morocco’s rearmament. In recent years, the kingdom has increased its military budget to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, including F-16 fighters, Abrams tanks, drones, Chinese Red Arrow 9A anti-tank missile systems, the Israeli PULS missile launcher, etc.

Spain, for its part, regularly conducts deterrence and surveillance missions in these territories claimed by Morocco. In late November 2022, it had deployed the frigate Reina Sofía (F-84) to Ceuta and the frigates Navarra (F-85) and Canarias (F-86) to Melilla. In January and March last, it sent the patrol boat Atalaya and the maritime action ship (BAM) Rayo P-42 to Melilla respectively.