King Mohammed VI Declares Migration Deal With Spain Exhausted
King Mohammed VI says Morocco's migration cooperation with Spain has reached its limits and refuses to be subject to political pressure or blackmail.
During the opening of parliament in Rabat, King Mohammed VI declared that the current cooperation model with Spain to curb irregular migration has reached its limits. The monarch criticized Spanish judicial decisions as obsolete and unrealistic, arguing they impede the repatriation of minors and fake asylum seekers while fueling the greed of criminal networks.
This diplomatic friction follows a July crisis in which at least 70,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. While Spanish opposition parties accused Rabat of facilitating the surge, Morocco attributed the event to social media and legal misinterpretations. The Government of Morocco further rejected being used as a scapegoat or a pre-electoral cash cow ahead of Spain's snap general election on November 29.
King Mohammed VI asserted that the partnership with Spain is a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment that will not be subject to pressure, threats, or blackmail. He intends to propose a new strategic vision for partners focused on regional stability, economic competitiveness, and shared development. Tensions remain high as King Felipe VI of Spain is scheduled to visit Ceuta and Melilla on October 13 and 14, cities over which Morocco claims sovereignty.
In a separate domestic development, the king appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first female prime minister following the September 23 elections.
