Royal couple visits - Spain wants to show support for Ceuta

For the first time in almost 20 years, a Spanish king visited the exclave of Ceuta. King Felipe IV and Queen Letizia were greeted by cheering people upon their arrival; They shook hands for about 20 minutes. The visit follows the unprecedented surge of migrants from Morocco at the end of July. King Felipe IV now wants to show the almost 85,000 residents the support of the crown.

According to various estimates, up to 80,000 people crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish exclave on July 30 and 31 - on foot or by swimming. More than 80 people died. Aid organizations assume more deaths. Most of those who made it later returned to Morocco, but a few thousand stayed.

The royal couple no longer sees the traces of the onslaught. At the weekend, cleaning crews and police removed the remains of the improvised tent cities on the beaches. The migrants, who had lived there under the harshest conditions for weeks, were taken to a reception camp.

The royal couple's official program does not include a visit to any of the beaches or to the camp. Apart from an interfaith memorial service for those killed in the onslaught, the program has nothing to do with migration. A reception in the town hall, a visit to a school. Rather, the visit is likely to have a symbolic character. In doing so, the king underlines Spain's claim to Ceuta and Melilla from Morocco.

The people of Ceuta still seem happy about the appearance of the royal couple. After the arrival of Felipe IV and Letizia, state television broadcaster RTVE estimated that thousands of people lined the streets and frenetically cheered the royal couple. "Felipe, Felipe!" and “Viva España!” was chanted. Some of those present wore T-shirts with the slogan "Ceuta is not for sale. Ceuta must be defended."

The king's visit is in coordination with the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He said that the city needed to feel “supported more than ever by the state.”

Sánchez was under domestic political pressure after the migration crisis. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated at rallies against the current migration policy. They accused Sánchez of an appeasement policy towards Morocco and a lack of help for Ceuta.

On Wednesday the royal couple will visit the second Spanish exclave, Melilla. The two exclaves on the North African coast are also claimed by Morocco. The serious border crisis in July had put Sánchez's government under pressure and put additional strain on the already difficult relations between Madrid and Rabat.