POLITICS · MOROCCO
Key Facts
- —The country Morocco, a monarchy where King Mohammed VI sets foreign policy. It borders Spain’s two North African cities, Ceuta and Melilla.
- —Why it matters Morocco is the main partner in stopping irregular crossings into Spain, a NATO ally that hosts US forces.
- —Why now Ceuta has lived through a migration crisis since late July. Spain’s King Felipe VI is due in the city on Tuesday, 13 October.
- —What happened Opening the new parliament on Friday, 9 October, the King said the partnership with Spain allows “no pressure or threat, nor any blackmail”.
- —The numbers Ceuta’s Chamber of Commerce puts crisis losses at about US$73 million to US$83 million up to 30 September.
- —What it means for US readers Friction between two US partners at the Strait of Gibraltar, four years before Morocco and Spain co-host the 2030 World Cup.
- —Still open Madrid’s formal reply, and what Morocco’s promised strategy paper will ask of its partners.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco told his new parliament on Friday, 9 October, that migration cooperation with Spain will not bend to “pressure or threat, nor any blackmail”. He spoke in Rabat at the opening of the 12th legislature. The warning matters abroad because Morocco is Europe’s key partner in policing the western Mediterranean migration route, and both countries are close US partners.
The full text was published the same afternoon by MAP, Morocco’s state news agency. The King also said the current model of migration cooperation had “reached its limits”. He announced that Morocco will send its partners a written strategy built on co-development, economic competitiveness and regional stability.
The quotations in this article are our English rendering of MAP’s official French text. The speech was delivered in Arabic.
What the King Said About Spain
Mohammed VI has reigned since 1999. Under Morocco’s constitution he commands the armed forces and steers foreign policy, so his words set the line for any government.
He opened the passage with praise. Morocco, he said, has become “a responsible, reliable partner” that honours its commitments. It is therefore entitled “to receive the same treatment from its partners”.
He said Morocco’s balanced approach to migration had produced concrete results. Yet he added that “the current model of cooperation has reached its limits, as the recurrent crises clearly show”.
On Spain, he credited real progress, including against irregular migration. But he said the partnership now faces obstacles from “outdated legal provisions” and “court decisions far removed from reality”.
In his account, these hamper the return of minors and of “people usurping refugee status”. They also “whet the appetite of criminal networks”, he said.
The sharpest line came next. Faced with “irresponsible statements by certain political and media circles”, he said, the partnership is “a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment”. It “cannot be subject to any pressure or threat, nor any blackmail”.
He did not name Ceuta, a Spanish court ruling or any Spanish politician. Spanish outlets, including El Faro de Ceuta, read the passage as a reference to the recent border crisis in the city.
Why Ceuta Is the Pressure Point
Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish cities on the North African coast, with land borders with Morocco. Morocco has never recognised Spanish rule over them. That makes them the European Union’s only land frontier in Africa.
Ceuta’s Chamber of Commerce presented its own count on the same Friday. It said the migration crisis that began in late July caused losses of €65.55 million to €74.34 million (about US$73 million to US$83 million) up to 30 September. The conversion uses the European Central Bank reference rate of US$1.1206 per euro on 9 October.
The chamber said commerce, hospitality and transport lost about 160 registered workers in September alone. Its president, Karim Bulaix, warned of business closures if the situation persists.
The calendar adds weight. Spain’s King Felipe VI, the head of state, will visit Ceuta on Tuesday, 13 October, according to David de la Encina, the Spanish government’s delegate in the city.
A New Government in Rabat
The speech opened a parliament elected on Wednesday, 23 September. On 29 September the King named Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the outgoing housing and urban planning minister, as head of government. She is the first woman to hold the post. Her government has yet to present its programme.
Most of the speech dealt with home affairs. The King said that no further delay was “tolerable” in moving powers, staff and money from Rabat to the regions. He also called for new national strategies on water, energy and food security, industry, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
Lawmakers picked up the Spain passage quickly, Hespress reported. Mahmoud Benjelloun, an MP for the opposition Left Alliance, said his bloc would put “national sovereignty first”. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which won 54 seats, has chosen to stay in opposition.
For background on the new prime minister, see Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Morocco’s New PM. For the wider power map, see Morocco Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026.
What It Means for US Readers
Washington counts both countries as partners. Morocco has been a major non-NATO ally of the United States since 2004. Spain, a NATO member, hosts US forces at Naval Station Rota and Morón Air Base.
A dispute over migration cooperation with Spain therefore touches security on the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. So far it is a war of words, not a break. The King praised the relationship even as he set conditions.
There is also a shared deadline. Morocco, Spain and Portugal co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which many US fans plan to attend. Both governments have strong reasons to keep the relationship working.
For travellers, the speech changes no rule. Crossings at Ceuta may see heavier security around the royal visit next week.
What Is Not Known
We found no formal response from Spain’s government to the speech by Saturday morning. We could not confirm which statements by “political and media circles” the King meant.
The content and date of Morocco’s promised strategy document are not known. Nor is it clear whether it will go to Spain alone or to the European Union as a whole.
Figures for the Ceuta crisis differ between Spanish authorities and outlets, so we do not report a headcount of arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did King Mohammed VI say about Spain?
He said the partnership with Spain is a sovereign, voluntary choice that cannot be subject to pressure, threat or blackmail. He also said outdated laws and court decisions hamper the return of minors.
When and where did he speak?
He spoke on Friday, 9 October 2026, in Rabat, at the opening of the first session of Morocco’s 12th legislature.
Why is Ceuta at the centre of the dispute?
Ceuta is a Spanish city bordering Morocco. It has faced a migration crisis since late July that local businesses say cost about US$73 million to US$83 million by 30 September.
Is Morocco ending migration cooperation with Spain?
No. The King praised the partnership and said Morocco will present a new strategy document to its partners. He called for a new model, not an end to cooperation.
Does this affect US travellers?
The speech changes no travel rule. Security may be tighter at Ceuta during the Spanish royal visit on 13 October.
Sources: MAP, full text of the royal speech (mapexpress.ma); Le360; Hespress English; Hespress English; El Faro de Ceuta; El Faro de Ceuta, Chamber of Commerce report; El Faro de Ceuta, royal visit; European Central Bank euro reference rate, 9 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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