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Spain has reportedly increased its military presence in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, deploying additional troops and armored units under the pretext of “surveillance and deterrence.” The move comes in parallel with growing grassroots momentum in Morocco to revive the national demand for the liberation of both enclaves.
Spain’s Ministry of Defense recently announced the deployment of the Ceuta Tactical Group and troops from the Alcantara 10th Cavalry Regiment in Melilla. The operation – part of what Madrid calls “Operation Presence – Surveillance and Deterrence,” reportedly includes patrols, reconnaissance missions, and control measures across both cities.
Spanish media noted that the latest military maneuvers coincided with a major cyberattack that has disrupted administrative services in Melilla for over a week. Cybercriminals reportedly demanded a ransom, further complicating the situation in the city.
While Spain’s armed forces frame their deployments as a response to “strategic risks” in the region, analysts note the timing coincides with the resurgence of Moroccan mobilization around Ceuta and Melilla.
The Ceuta Tactical Group, part of the Spanish Army’s Land Operational Command, reportedly includes units such as the 54th Regulares Group and the 2nd “Duke of Alba” Tercio of the Spanish Legion — both remnants of colonial era formations that were originally created to suppress resistance in northern Morocco and maintain Spanish control over its former protectorate.
The escalation follows the formation, in late 2024, of the Committee for the Liberation of Ceuta and Melilla, created by nearly 100 Moroccan civil society associations. The committee, established in Beni-Enzar, a town in Nador province in Northeastern Morocco, aims to reactivate Morocco’s historic claims over the two territories.
While Spain relies on a military approach in the enclaves, voices in Morocco stress the need to advance the question of sovereignty through legal, diplomatic, and civil society channels. The reactivation of national efforts marks a turning point in the long-standing call to end colonial presence in North Africa.
Spanish media have increasingly voiced alarm over mounting international pressure surrounding the future of Ceuta and Melilla. Recent reports speculate that United States President Donald Trump — who had recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara — may extend similar recognition to the two enclaves.
In response to growing speculation, Spain had downplayed any suggestion of territorial instability. Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesus Vivas, joined Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno in firmly rejecting claims that Morocco may organize a new “Green March” toward the city.
Speaking at a policy forum in Madrid, Vivas insisted that Ceuta’s Spanish identity was rooted in law, history, and the will of its residents, adding that there was “not the slightest risk” of such an event materializing.
Legacy of occupation
Ceuta and Melilla are two coastal enclaves located on the northern shores of Morocco. Though geographically in North Africa, both are under Spanish control and classified by Madrid as autonomous cities, enjoying a similar administrative status to Spain’s mainland regions.
Spain has occupied Ceuta since 1580 – after inheriting it from Portugal – and Melilla since 1497, making them among the oldest European colonial outposts on the African continent.
Morocco does not officially recognise Spanish sovereignty over the two enclaves and has consistently demanded their return, viewing them as remnants of colonialism that violate the country’s territorial integrity.
From the Spanish perspective, Ceuta and Melilla are integral parts of its nation — a stance strongly upheld by all major political parties. The Spanish Constitution and European Union laws are fully applied there, although neither city is part of the EU’s customs union or Schengen area.
The cities are home to permanent Spanish military bases, and both borders are heavily fortified with fences, surveillance systems, and security forces. Spain justifies this militarization on the grounds of migration control, counterterrorism, and “border integrity.”
