More than 70,000 people entered Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta in a sudden influx before being swiftly returned, putting Morocco’s close relationship with Donald Trump under renewed scrutiny. The episode also raised questions about whether Moroccan authorities allowed rumours of an open border to spread, although no clear trigger or proof of official coordination has been established.
The scrutiny comes as Morocco and Washington have deepened ties. Morocco joined Trump’s Board of Peace this year, and King Mohammed VI recently named a $1bn highway alongside Western Sahara after the US president.
At a glance:
- The influx involved more than 70,000 people crossing into Ceuta by swimming or wading.
- Observers have suggested Morocco may have tolerated the movement, but they have not established that Rabat organised it.
- The episode followed years of closer Morocco-US ties, including Trump’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara during his first term.
- The crisis exposed Europe’s dependence on Morocco to help control migration flows.
What is known about the crossing
Tens of thousands of people crossed one of the European Union’s two land borders with Africa into Ceuta, a small Spanish territory in north Africa. Spain scrambled to respond, and the people who entered were swiftly returned, according to the Guardian’s account.
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Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group said there was enough evidence to hypothesise that Morocco was involved, but stressed that there was no clear trigger. One possibility raised by observers was Spain’s recent rapprochement with Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival. Fabiani said another plausible explanation was that Morocco may have chosen not to intervene after monitoring online rumours about the border.
Why Trump’s position matters
The US response focused criticism on Spain’s Socialist-led government. Vice-president JD Vance and the State Department blamed Spain for the influx, while Trump warned that a similar event in the United States under Democrats would make what happened in Spain “look small-time”. None of them publicly mentioned a possible Moroccan role, the report said.
Washington and Rabat have longstanding ties. During Trump’s first term, Morocco agreed to normalise relations with Israel in exchange for Trump’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty claim over the disputed Western Sahara. Morocco has since intensified efforts to maintain US support for its autonomy plan for the territory.
Ceuta and Europe’s vulnerability
Morocco disputes Spain’s sovereignty over Ceuta, which has been under Spanish rule since 1580. A recent US congressional report referred to the territory as “Spanish-administered”, wording that appeared sympathetic to Morocco’s position, according to the Guardian.
Haizam Amirah-Fernández of Madrid’s Centre for Contemporary Arab Studies compared the episode with May 2021, when Morocco loosened border controls and more than 8,000 people entered Ceuta during a dispute with Spain. He said the latest crisis triggered finger-pointing across the EU rather than a united response using the bloc’s economic relationship with Morocco.
The incident also highlighted Europe’s reliance on Morocco to manage migration. Fabiani said that dependence leaves Europe vulnerable because Morocco remains a partner with its own interests. Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis fellow Said Saddiki rejected the idea that closer ties with Washington had come at the expense of Morocco’s relations with Spain or the EU, saying policymakers were seeking to preserve strategic autonomy.
Questions readers ask
Has Morocco been proven to have organised the Ceuta influx?
No. Analysts cited in the report said Morocco’s possible role was plausible, including a decision by security forces not to intervene, but no clear trigger or proof that Rabat masterminded the crossing had been established.
Why is Ceuta politically sensitive?
Ceuta has been under Spanish rule since 1580, but Morocco disputes Spain’s sovereignty over the territory. Its status has remained a point of tension between Rabat and Madrid.
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