Poll: Spaniards say Ceuta crisis could spark armed conflict with Morocco

Key Points:

• A recent POLITICO poll reveals that 58% of Spaniards believe tensions over the Spanish exclaves Ceuta and Melilla could lead to armed conflict with Morocco within the next decade, amid fears sparked by a summer migration crisis.
• The crisis, involving over 70,000 migrants arriving in Ceuta, intensified criticism of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government and raised suspicions about Morocco's role, which Sánchez denies despite allegations from opposition parties and police reports.
• Three-quarters of Spaniards view Morocco as a threat to Spain's territorial integrity, with higher concern among supporters of conservative and far-right parties; even among Sánchez’s Socialist supporters, nearly two-thirds see Morocco as a genuine threat.
• The Spanish government is navigating delicate diplomatic relations with Morocco, especially as King Felipe VI visits Ceuta and Melilla, where tensions remain high following the migration crisis and unresolved issues like the refusal to repatriate deceased migrants.
• The EU is considering emergency measures to address potential mass migration movements, but Spanish public opinion strongly fears Morocco's intentions toward the exclaves, recalling historical events like the 1975 Green March.