- Morocco announced it would be the first African state to join Trump's initiative.
- Trump sent a congratulatory message to King Mohammed VI on his 27 years in power.
- More than 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta, and Spain is grappling with the aftermath.
- Morocco's monarch confirmed a $1bn highway flanking the disputed territory of Western Sahara after Trump.
- A recent US congressional report described Ceuta as 'Spanish-administered' rather than part of Spain.
- US officials, including JD Vance, blamed Spain's Socialist-led government for the influx, while Trump warned that electing Democrats would make what happened in Spain 'look small-time'.
- Riccardo Fabiani, the north Africa project director for the International Crisis Group, suggested that there is enough evidence to hypothesise that Trump's influence is behind the Ceuta incident.
- While Morocco likely did not mastermind the surge into Ceuta, its relationship with the Trump administration may have affected online rumours about the Spanish border being thrown open.
- The American response to the crisis seemed to be a triumph for Rabat, as its relationship with the US president traces back to his first term.
- Trump and his administration have expressed deep antipathy towards Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister.
Morocco's recent actions following the Ceuta migrant crisis have raised questions about the influence of Donald Trump's administration. As over 70,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced a $1 billion highway project in Western Sahara, signaling a bold stance amid ongoing territorial disputes.34
Riccardo Fabiani, a director at the International Crisis Group, noted, “I think there’s enough evidence to hypothesise or claim that is behind this.” He suggested that while Morocco may not have orchestrated the surge, its close ties with the Trump administration could have influenced the situation.78910
The US response has been critical of Spain's Socialist-led government, with Vice President JD Vance attributing the crisis to their policies. Trump himself remarked that electing Democrats would make the events in Spain “look small-time.” This reflects the administration's longstanding animosity towards Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, particularly regarding military cooperation and defense spending.612
The relationship between Morocco and the US has been strengthened through Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which has emboldened Rabat's claims over Ceuta. A recent US congressional report described Ceuta as “Spanish-administered” rather than part of Spain, further complicating the territorial narrative.511
“The surge of over 70,000 people into Ceuta prompted Morocco's monarch to confirm a $1bn highway flanking Western Sahara, while a US congressional report described Ceuta as 'Spanish-administered' rather than part of Spain. Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group said there was no clear trigger, but Morocco may have acted to earn favor with the Trump administration.”
The Guardian
