Spain again rejects Morocco's demands on Ceuta and Melilla
The Spanish government officially informs Rabat of its categorical rejection of the Moroccan demands on Ceuta and Melilla, in response to the statements of Justice Minister Abdellatif Wahbi, which renewed the historical claim to the two cities.
On Friday, August 21, 2026, the Spanish government informed Morocco of its categorical rejection of its demands on the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, stressing that the two cities form an integral part of Spanish sovereignty and territorial integrity, and that they are fully integrated into the European Union. This official Spanish position came in direct response to the statements of the Moroccan Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Wehbe, in which he recalled Rabat's historical position on the two cities. What did Wahbi say? Wahbi had, in media statements, reaffirmed what he described Morocco's"historical and geographical right" to Ceuta and Melilla, calling for the opening of channels of dialogue with Madrid regarding the future of the two cities, through the establishment of a joint mechanism or "dialogue committee". Wehbe did not call for an immediate restoration of the two cities, nor did he question the existing strategic relations between Rabat and Madrid, but his position was limited to calling for not burying the file or turning it into a permanent "taboo" between two countries that are forced by geographical proximity to dialogue at various points of disagreement between them. The Spanish response replied The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes a firm stance, considering that the issue of sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla is not debatable, and that the two cities are part of European soil by virtue of their belonging to Spain. This categorical rejection reflects the firm line adopted by successive Spanish governments whenever this file is raised from the Moroccan side. Why does this file matter? This diplomatic exchange reopens a renewed old debate between Rabat and Madrid, at a time when the economic and security partnership between the two countries is expanding, especially in the immigration and anti- Terrorism and trade. While Rabat usually prefers not to escalate publicly on this issue in order to preserve the course of bilateral relations, the renewed demand by a minister in the government shows that the question of Ceuta and Melilla is still present in the official Moroccan discourse, even in the language of dialogue rather than confrontation.