Spanish Monarchs Visit Ceuta Amid Regional Tensions
King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived in the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta to an emotional public welcome, fulfilling what the royal couple described in the municipal guest book as a visit „where they had looked forward to for a long time and that was badly needed,” nos.nl reported. Thousands of residents lined the barricaded streets waving Spanish flags and flags of Ceuta, chanting slogans such as „Ceuta is not sold, Ceuta is defended” and calling themselves „caballas,” the local nickname for the city’s inhabitants, as noted by InSpanje.nl. The royal visit takes place 2.5 months after roughly 70,000 mostly young migrants crossed the border from Morocco by land and sea in late July, overwhelming local security and triggering deep anger among residents who felt abandoned by the rest of Spain, nos.nl reported. While the vast majority of those migrants quickly returned to Morocco or were processed, several thousand remained, prompting the recent dismantling of a migrant camp on the beach.
Territorial Claims Contrast With Royal Assurances
While the Spanish monarch emphasized the undisputed sovereignty of the exclave, Morocco continues to press claims over both Ceuta and Melilla, viewing them as colonized „occupied cities” that belong to Rabat, according to Reformatorisch Dagblad. This border dispute dates back to Morocco’s independence in 1956, but tensions have flared recently following statements from Moroccan officials calling for dialogue on the return of the territories „to the bosom of the fatherland,” Reformatorisch Dagblad reported. Spanish cabinet spokesperson Elma Saiz strongly rejected any prospective transfer, reiterating that Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish and form the southern borders of Spain and Europe, as reported by Reformatorisch Dagblad.
The geopolitical friction contrasts sharply with the domestic reception inside Ceuta, where the royal couple walked through the crowds for half an hour, shaking hands, greeting children, and signing items handed to them by residents, InSpanje.nl reported. However, public frustration was also directed at national political representation; when regional government delegate David de la Encina arrived, the crowd greeted him with a concert of jeers and shouts telling him to leave, according to InSpanje.nl. Later in the day, Felipe and Letizia met with local officials and citizens at the town hall to review the fallout from the July crossings, and visited an Islamic cemetery to pay respects to the 141 individuals verified by authorities to have died attempting to reach Ceuta, nos.nl reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Royal Visit
* When did King Felipe last visit Ceuta before this trip?
King Felipe had not visited Ceuta since becoming king in 2014, with the previous royal visit to the enclave having been made by his father, Juan Carlos, in November 2007, according to InSpanje.nl.
* How many migrants crossed into Ceuta during the late July crisis?
More than 70,000 predominantly young migrants entered Ceuta over land and sea during the surge in late July, though the vast majority quickly returned to Morocco, nos.nl reported.
* What is the next stop on the royal couple’s itinerary?
Following their overnight stay in Ceuta, King Felipe and Queen Letizia are scheduled to travel onward to Melilla, Spain’s other North African exclave, accompanied by Migration Minister Elma Saiz, according to InSpanje.nl.