Sánchez says Moroccan navy vessels entered Spanish waters off Ceuta; calls incidents isolated

Right · 1Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on 12 October that Moroccan naval vessels entered Spanish waters off Ceuta without permission after the late-July mass migrant crossing, according to state broadcaster TVE as relayed by Reuters. 1 Right · 1Sánchez played down the incidents as isolated, saying "such isolated incidents do occur" between neighbours, that cooperation between the navies remains smooth, and that relations with Morocco are "very important". 1 Right · 2The comments followed a report in the Spanish daily El País, citing unnamed sources, that at least one Moroccan frigate and several patrol boats entered Spanish sovereign waters without seeking authorisation. 1 2

Right · 1According to AFP's account of El País, the sources described the entries as "an intentional and repeated violation of territorial waters, for which there are few precedents", which continued into early August and almost caused a collision between military boats from both countries. 2 Right · 2El País said the incursions were stopped only by the intervention of the Spanish navy and defence ministry; Reuters' summary adds that a Spanish frigate had to intercept the Moroccan warships to repel them. 2 1 Right · 2El País's sources declined to speculate whether the naval incursions were coordinated with the migrant rush, and Reuters noted TVE did not quote Sánchez addressing the specifics of the report. 2 1

Right · 2More than 70,000 migrants (Reuters says over 72,000) crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on 30-31 July, in what AFP calls an unprecedented, deadly rush; most returned in following weeks but thousands remained. 2 1 Right · 1The Spanish right accuses Morocco of orchestrating the entries for political motives, while Sánchez has said there is no "solid proof" of that. 2 Right · 2On Friday Morocco's King Mohammed VI condemned "irresponsible statements" by political and media circles and said the partnership with Spain cannot be subject to "pressure or threat"; Reuters adds he said the migration cooperation model had reached its limits and called Spanish court decisions impeding repatriation of minors and asylum seekers "obsolete". 2 1

Right · 2The reports came on the eve of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia's visit to Ceuta on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first royal visit since 2007, which could strain relations because Rabat claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla; Spain heads to an early election on 29 November. 2 1 Right · 2The Spanish government and defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment, and Morocco's foreign ministry could not be reached. 1 2