Whilst wildfires raged around Madrid and Valencia, Morocco appears to have organised an invasion of thousands of young men into Cueta, a Spanish exclave which has existed for centuries in North Africa.
Post-Colonial Era and Moroccan Sovereignty Claims
The 20th century ushered in dramatic changes for the broader region, and Ceuta and Melilla were no exception. As decolonization movements swept across Africa, Morocco, newly independent in 1956, quickly laid claim to both cities, viewing them as integral parts of its territorial sovereignty. For Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla are akin to colonial vestiges that ought to be reintegrated into the kingdom, much like Gibraltar is for Spain in its own dispute with the United Kingdom.
Spain, however, has steadfastly maintained that Ceuta and Melilla are integral parts of its national territory. Both enclaves were officially declared autonomous cities in 1995, further cementing their political and administrative ties to Madrid. Spain’s argument is based on a legal framework that sees Ceuta and Melilla as long-established Spanish municipalities, predating the modern Moroccan state.
This ongoing territorial dispute remains a thorn in Moroccan-Spanish relations, though it is overshadowed by the more pressing concerns of migration and security in the Mediterranean region.
The invasion of migrants into Cueta whilst the King of Morocco met with President Trump at the White House:
Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta, Spain. Now Trump says the ‘same thing is going to happen’ in the US
Story by Andrew Romano
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As many as 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny North African territory of Ceuta between Wednesday and Friday, triggering a chaotic humanitarian crisis and a flurry of fierce political attacks on both sides of the Atlantic.
But John Massie explains the US support of the Moroccan desire to take Cueta and have signed the Abraham Accord, along with Bahrain, United Arab Emirates,Kazakhstan, Sudan to reveal alliances.
‘Now they’re acting shocked at the invasion’ US representative accuses Republicans of hypocrisy over Ceuta crisis
Kentucky Republican representative Thomas Massie has accused his party of hypocrisy over the ongoing migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
1 Aug 2026, 23:59 | Updated: 1d ago
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Republican representative Thomas Massie has accused his party of hypocrisy over the ongoing migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Picture: Getty
A Republican representative has accused his party of hypocrisy over the ongoing migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
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About 60,000 mainly young men had crossed into Ceuta by land and sea from Thursday in an unprecedented surge at one of the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. At least 67 were killed in the mass rush.
In a post shared to social media on Saturday, Representative Thomas Massie wrote: “Don’t fall for the fake Fox/GOP outrage.
“Two weeks ago the House passed a bill that greenlighted the transfer of Spanish territory to Morocco.
“Every Republican except me voted for it, but now THEY are acting shocked at the invasion.”
Massie referenced H.R. 8595, the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 in his fiery post.
The Kentucky Republican was the sole GOP lawmaker to vote against the legislation, which passed the House on July 15 in a 217-209 vote. Most Democrats opposed the measure.
Abraham Accords signing ceremony (From left) representatives of Bahrain, Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates posing for a photograph on the South Lawn of the White House after signing the Abraham Accords, Washington, D.C., September 15, 2020.
Quick Facts
Date concluded: 2020–
Significance: Normalizes diplomatic and economic ties between Israel and Muslim-majority countries.
The ties between King of Morocco and Donald Trump:
King Mohammed VI: ‘Donald J. Trump’ Highway Honors Morocco-US Friendship
Beyond its role as a key transport link between Morocco’s northern and southern regions, the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway carries a diplomatic significance in Morocco-US relations.
Agadir – King Mohammed VI has said Morocco’s decision to name the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway after President Donald Trump honors Rabat-Washington bilateral ties.
In a letter on July 2, King Mohammed VI informed the US President of his decision to name the Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway after him.
The monarch said that although Moroccan-American relations have always been based on “close friendship and constant loyalty,” they have reached a stronger level of strength and cooperation during Trump’s two presidential terms.
The monarch recalled the US recognition in 2020 of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara, describing the decision as a historic step that “will forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans” and gave new momentum to bilateral relations.
Retired, living in the Scottish Borders after living most of my life in cities in England. I can now indulge my interest in all aspects of living close to nature in a wild landscape. I live on what was once the Iapetus Ocean which took millions of years to travel from the Southern Hemisphere to here in the Northern Hemisphere. That set me thinking and questioning and seeking answers.
In 1998 I co-wrote Millennium Countdown (US)/ A Business Guide to the Year 2000 (UK) see https://www.abebooks.co.uk/products/isbn/9780749427917
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