About 60,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, leading to escalating diplomatic tensions in Europe. While most migrants have returned to Morocco, Spain is facing pressure from the United States and Israel, as well as growing isolation within the European Union (EU).
According to a report by Yonhap News, citing the French daily Le Monde, of the approximately 60,000 migrants who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco at the end of last month, over 48,000 have returned to Morocco. However, the political and diplomatic repercussions of this situation continue to spread.
The most significant impact is being felt within Europe. Italy announced it would suspend the application of the Schengen Agreement specifically for Spain and close its maritime and air borders. Finland and Denmark have expressed support for this move. In response, the EU Commission stated that a temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement is only permissible in cases of serious threats to member state security and must be communicated to the EU with sufficient justification.
Some experts argue that since migrants entering Ceuta cannot move to mainland Spain without identity verification, it is difficult to view this situation as a direct threat to the Schengen system. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares emphasized that "the integrity of the Schengen area is absolutely guaranteed."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also appealed via his X account, stating, "Now is not the time to sow division; we must continue to build a strong and united Europe."
Analysis within Spain suggests that this situation is not merely a refugee issue but a geopolitical conflict. The director of the Madrid Center for Modern Arab Studies described the crisis as "purely a political crisis, not an immigration crisis."
The director of the Barcelona Center for International Affairs noted, "The essence of this situation is geopolitical," pointing out that Spain has been participating in NATO missions at the Finland-Russia border since this year, making Finland's support for Italy unexpected.
There are also suspicions regarding potential U.S. involvement. Various interpretations have emerged regarding Morocco's decision to allow tens of thousands of migrants to cross its borders. A political scientist from a university in Madrid claimed, "We are witnessing the U.S. engaging in large-scale destabilization efforts, given its close ties with Morocco."
Sánchez, one of the few leftist leaders in Europe, has clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump over key issues such as NATO defense spending, immigration policy, and the Iran conflict. Trump has criticized Spain as a "terrible NATO partner" and even mentioned the possibility of trade disruptions, labeling the Ceuta situation as a "disaster created by weak laws, poor management, and overly progressive legislation."
Israel has also joined the criticism. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir mocked Spain, saying, "Accept all residents of Gaza," while Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon questioned why Spain, which criticizes Israel, maintains territory in Africa.
Domestically, it is widely believed that Sánchez's position will not be immediately shaken. A historian from the Barcelona Autonomous Community stated, "The public is unlikely to fully accept the far-right narrative that 'immigration policy has led to a clash of civilizations,'" but noted that Sánchez is becoming increasingly isolated in Europe, and this situation could further consolidate right-wing voter support.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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