Rabat – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to maintaining constructive relations with Morocco today, following King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia’s official visit to Ceuta and Melilla.
Speaking to journalists upon his arrival in Brussels for a European Council meeting, Sánchez stressed the importance of maintaining good neighborly relations with Morocco. He declined to speculate on Rabat’s possible response to the royal visit, instead emphasizing Madrid’s commitment to a constructive relationship with its North African neighbor.
Sánchez’s remarks came amid questions about the diplomatic implications of the royal couple’s visit to the two Spanish-occupied cities, which Morocco considers part of its territory.
The Spanish prime minister defended the visit as a demonstration of the Spanish state’s presence in Ceuta and Melilla. He also stressed that both cities remain close to the hearts of Spaniards.
Sànchez also referred to the migration crisis that affected Ceuta in late July, and said that the Spanish government had adopted measures to support the city and noted that more than 12,000 people had returned to Morocco since August 10.
According to El Faro Ceuta, he also described the alleged Moroccan naval incident as “isolated,” and claimed Spanish and Moroccan naval forces had communicated during the episode and resolved the situation through their exchanges.
Read also: Did Morocco Violate Ceuta’s Territorial Waters? The Contradictions in the El País Article
The prime minister added that communication between the two navies generally runs smoothly and that no similar incident had occurred in the months since.
King Felipe VI also called for Spain and Morocco to maintain a relationship based on trust, responsibility and good faith during his visit to Melilla yesterday. He said both countries should preserve good neighborly ties and work toward mutual benefit through peace, security, stability and cooperation.
Meanwhile, Spanish government spokesperson Elma Saiz defended the royal visit, describing it as historic and saying Spain maintains excellent diplomatic relations with Morocco. She also backed the claim that the Moroccan naval vessels incident had been resolved through dialogue.
