Michael Rubin: Returning Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco Could Have Spared Spain Its Current Crisis
By / Imane El Alaoui
American analyst Michael Rubin, Director of Policy Analysis at the Middle East Forum, argues that Spain’s current challenges in Ceuta and Melilla could have been avoided had Madrid returned the two North African enclaves to Moroccan sovereignty.
In an article examining the future of Spain’s presence in North Africa, Rubin describes Spain’s continued administration of Ceuta and Melilla as a remnant of the colonial era that, in his view, conflicts with Madrid’s public commitment to decolonization.
According to Rubin, transferring sovereignty over the two cities to Morocco would help end the recurring tensions affecting the region, particularly those linked to irregular migration and growing security pressures along the border.
He also argues that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez should align his government’s anti-colonial rhetoric with concrete policy measures. In Rubin’s view, ending Spain’s presence in Ceuta and Melilla would be consistent with the principles Spain promotes in its foreign policy.
Rubin concludes that, in his assessment, returning Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco could have spared Madrid many of the political and security challenges it faces today.
