Ceuta Crisis: Spain Denies Plans for Economic Sanctions Against Morocco

Rabat – Spain has reportedly denied reports that it is preparing a plan, including potential economic measures against Morocco, in response to the recent mass crossings into Ceuta.

Spanish news outlet Electomania quoted a Spanish report from RTVE, which alleged that Spain is working on a “contingency plan” against Morocco, which the government subsequently denied.

Electomania quoted the government, which rejected that it is working on “a plan of this kind.”

“Spain and Morocco share strong cooperation in different sectors, including trade.”

Morocco is Spain’s leading trading partner in Africa. Spanish shipments to Morocco include refined petroleum.

In March, Spanish news outlet La Razon said Morocco ranked among the main destinations for Spanish natural gas exports at the start of the year, placing third in January with over 822 gigawatt-hours imported from the European country.

Trade between the two countries first surpassed the $22 billion milestone in  2024. 

The number marked a record high and an upward trajectory from previous years, especially as Madrid expressed its determination to boost cooperation with Rabat following one of the unprecedented diplomatic crises the two countries witnessed in 2021.

The rift dates back to when Spain unilaterally hosted Polisario leader Brahim Ghali for hospitalization, a move Rabat described as a betrayal of relations between the two countries.

It was not until 2022 that relations witnessed an improvement following Madrid’s decision to join the growing list of countries that see the Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.

Despite this position, some officials and politicians, especially from the far right, continue to fuel anti-Moroccan narratives, including following the recent mass crossings.

The crossings refer to the Ceuta migration crisis, when tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the region between July 30 and 31.

Spanish parties, including the PP and far-right Vox, targeted Morocco in a fierce campaign, urging the Spanish government to take a strong stance against  what they alleged was a deliberate move against the European government.

Government sources and ministers, however, denied the accusations and backed cooperation with Rabat, stressing that it is thanks to Morocco that Madrid was able to mitigate the migration crisis.