MADRID, October 14. /TASS/. Spanish military authorities intercepted direct orders from the Royal Moroccan Navy instructing fishing vessels flying the Moroccan flag to violate Spain’s territorial waters, the ABC newspaper reported.
According to the newspaper, this coincided with the unauthorized entry of Royal Moroccan Navy vessels into the waters off Spanish Ceuta at the height of the migration crisis in the city in late July and early August. The Spanish Defense Ministry immediately responded by deploying naval forces, including the Rayo patrol ship and two frigates, to the area to maintain a show of force and deterrence until Morocco ceased such actions. ABC noted that Spanish Armed Forces’ Chief of Defense Staff Admiral General Teodoro Lopez Calderon also held talks with the Moroccan high command, demanding an end to the provocations.
Earlier, the El Pais reported, citing sources, that at least one Moroccan frigate and several patrol vessels had entered Spanish territorial waters. These actions were described as deliberate and repeated violations of territorial waters. The incidents occurred in early August and nearly led to a clash between the two countries' vessels. The situation around the waters off Ceuta is particularly sensitive because Spain considers its 12-nautical-mile territorial waters to be part of its territory, the newspaper pointed out. However, Morocco does not recognize Spain’s sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, nor over their waters.
In late July, tens of thousands of undocumented migrants reached Ceuta by swimming or wading across the breakwater separating the city from Morocco. Due to the crisis, Madrid decided to deploy the military to ensure the city's security. According to official estimates, up to 80,000 people may have entered the city, though it is believed that most of the undocumented migrants have already returned to Morocco.