King Felipe’s Visit to Ceuta and Melilla Highlights Unresolved Spain-Morocco Dispute
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are set to visit the disputed North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, marking the monarch's first trip to these territories since ascending the throne in 2014. The visit occurs shortly after a significant migration incident in July and amidst a long-standing sovereignty dispute between Spain and Morocco. While Spain maintains that Ceuta and Melilla are integral parts of its national territory, Morocco claims them as occupied regions. The cities' strategic location on the North African coast and their status as external borders of the Schengen area continue to make them focal points for diplomatic tension and migration policy.
