Mohammed VI confirms that the partnership with Spain is “a sovereign choice and will not be subject to blackmail”

Today, Friday (October 9, 2026), King Mohammed VI of Morocco defended the partnership with Spain after the crisis of the influx of migrants towards the Ceuta enclave at the end of July, considering it a “sovereign choice and a strategic commitment.”

The Moroccan King said in a speech he delivered to parliamentarians on the occasion of the opening of the legislative session, “In the face of the irresponsible statements and blatant exploitation of some political and media circles, we say that the partnership is a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment, and will never be the subject of any pressure, threat or blackmail.”

It is noteworthy that on July 30 and 31, more than 70,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta by swimming or walking from Morocco, and more than a hundred of them died during the heavy influx, according to data from Madrid and Rabat.

Most of the migrants were returned to Morocco, but thousands remain in Ceuta, where the situation is deteriorating in light of clashes and protests from the population.

"become transcendent"

The King said that the “balanced approach” adopted by the Kingdom to deal with the phenomenon of irregular migration, especially to Spain, had produced “tangible results*, but the current model of international cooperation in this field had “become outdated.”

He added, "We must acknowledge with all courage and objectivity that the current model of cooperation in this field has become obsolete, and the recurring crises are the best evidence of that."

He added, "The same applies to our neighbor Spain, where our partnership has witnessed important developments in various fields, including the fight against illegal immigration." However, today this cooperation faces major challenges, linked to some overriding legal requirements and judicial decisions that are far from reality, which unfortunately prevent the deportation of minor children and people who are impersonating asylum, and fuel the ambitions of criminal networks.”

The migrant crisis in Ceuta sparked severe diplomatic tensions between European Union countries, especially between Spain and Italy, and increased pressure on Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whom the right-wing opposition already accuses of inaction on the immigration issue and on Morocco.

Agence France-Presse quoted the Director General of International Political Affairs at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Yazoug, as saying that Morocco “will propose to its partners, especially Spain, a model of cooperation that is compatible with the current reality.”

He pointed out that it is "the first time that an initiative of this kind has been issued by a country in the South towards the countries of the North. His Majesty the King's initiative expresses a constructive approach."

"Job creation"

The King's speech is the first after the election of a new parliament on September 23. In his speech, the king called for “putting youth issues at the forefront of public policies*, and “developing an integrated vision that guarantees equal opportunities and includes education, rehabilitation, and economic inclusion.”

He considered that this perception should "enhance confidence in their ability to advance socially and in the institutions of their homeland in light of freedom, dignity and stability."

King Mohammed VI also called on the national private sector to “be more proactive and innovative, and more capable of creating job opportunities.”