Spanish Admiral: Morocco’s Claims on Ceuta and Melilla "Clearly Unrealistic"

According to Garat, Morocco is aware that "its claims are beyond its reach, as the UN Charter does not cover them." "They know that the only option to expand their territory is through their southern border," explained the former military man in an interview for the Ceuta and Melilla Observatory podcast. The annexation of Ceuta and Melilla by Morocco is "clearly unrealistic," he assures, adding that the Spanish army is not worried about the subject.

"We have a quiet mind, because we are protected by the UN Charter. Morocco is not Russia. It will not violate it. This would have serious consequences for them and our allies would support us to maintain international order," he said, acknowledging Morocco’s rearmament in recent years, acquiring weapons and defense systems from Israel, the United States and even Spain.

Despite these many acquisitions, Garat believes that Morocco will not be able to use these weapons to attack Spain. "If that happened, they would lose the support of the nations that supply them," he said. But if the military route is excluded, Morocco exerts political pressure, particularly migratory, on Spain, the admiral said, referring to a "hybrid war". Garat also does not forget the pressure exerted by Morocco to get Spain to recognize its sovereignty over the Sahara.