The recent influx of Moroccan migrants into Spanish territory which has flooded the news portrays another, yet big episode of the recurrent influx of migrants into areas of European jurisdiction.
However, a wider glance at this incident tells a more complex, multi-dimensional story, one which sees history, foreign relations, and global geopolitics intertwine. In other words, this was not a mere passing of migrants, it is an event which should be viewed from a wider and global lens.
What makes this incident unique when compared with other, usual incidents of migrant passing from Africa to Europe is the fact that it took place in the African mainland. It took place in Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish-claimed enclaves in the Moroccan heartland.
Ceuta bore bore the brunt of the incident, with 50,000 to 60,000 migrants entering the enclave, according to Reuters. As for Melilla, it was largely spared, with only a few clashes occurring as opposed to a massive influx.
Spanish takeover
Ceuta and Melilla have long been Spanish-held territories. Unlike other parts of northern Morocco, the two enclaves were claimed by the Spanish crown long before Spain’s land grab of northern Moroccan cities in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Ceuta, which was initially captured by Portugal in 1415, passed onto the Spanish realm as a result of the Iberian Union (1580-1640), after which it remained under Spanish control with Portuguese recognition in the Treaty of Lisbon (1668). Melilla, on the other hand, was conquered by the Spanish much before that, as it was taken all the way back in 1497, right after the fall of Granada in 1492 and the completion of the Spanish Reconquista.
Despite the fact that Spanish administration over the enclaves is recognized by most important global players, the recent change in the US Congress’ legislative phrasing regarding Spain’s administration of the enclaves points to a wider context that could be tied to the migrant incident.
The US now refers to Spanish administration of these areas as “Spanish-administered cities located in Moroccan territory”, as opposed to previous documentation referring to the enclaves as Spanish territory.
This shift comes as no surprise as the US has been no fan of the current Spanish government over the past few years. In fact, the US President has made several remarks that are critical of the Spanish government and its Prime Minister.
This tumultuous relationship between the two states is what led many to cast doubts over the simplicity of the Ceuta and Melilla incident.
Strained relations
The US has time and time again criticized Spain for its stances on migration and its passivity in the Iran war. The US President just dubbed this migrant incident an “invasion”, perhaps implying that it is attributed to the Spanish government’s migration policies. As for Spain’s wartime passivity, this was actually a form of activity that was instead to the detriment of US aims.
This was clear when, following the beginning of the Iran War, Spain refused to allow the US usage of military bases back in March. This was an act that resembled Spain’s repeated blockages of Israel-bound arms shipments in 2024 and 2025, which preceded the passing of a parliamentary arms embargo in October 2025.
This has all led many to ponder on the recent migrant incident and speculate that it ties into Spain’s foreign relations and foreign policy choices.
The Spanish government, due to its left-wing leanings, adopts a lenient border policy, which is evident in the Spanish Supreme Court’s latest ruling on migrants arriving by sea. This ruling has apparently played a role in the ignition of the Ceuta and Melilla incident.
However, many speculate that the US and its allies might have played on this leniency to cause this incident, as such an incident would exert pressure on the Spanish government by Spain’s active, anti-migration right-wing lobby.
Some have even gone further speculating that this was not only done to weaken the government’s position domestically, but also to weaken its grip on the enclaves and the Spanish-Moroccan Mediterranean shores which westwardly begin at the Strait of Gibraltar.
Weakening Spain’s grip and influence on this area automatically translates to Morocco gaining the edge, a more favorable condition in the eyes of the US and its allies. After all, it was Morocco that allowed the arms shipments which Spain blocked to pass, and with the Iran conflict still brewing, the US and Israel cannot afford to have their supply lines bogged down at the Strait of Gibraltar when both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait are no longer reliable.
As of today, the Spanish government has already dealt with the incident, as the vast majority of the migrants that broke in have already gone back.
Nevertheless, the incident, when examined through a bigger lens that considers global events, remains to serve as a reminder of the current dynamics of global politics, and perhaps even a signal of what the future might hold for Spain-US relations.
For now, the only thing that can be said is that, if the speculations on US and Co. involvement in the incident were to be true, then the US President’s comment on the incident is to be deemed as audacious as Spain’s claims to the enclaves are!
The author, Yahya Habil, is a Libyan freelance journalist focusing on African affairs.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of TRT Afrika.
