Santiago Abascal, president of the Vox party, demanded the permanent militarization of the Ceuta border on Sunday, Aug. 2 [1].
The proposal follows a massive arrival of migrants at the Spanish enclave in North Africa. Abascal's calls for drastic security measures highlight growing political tension regarding Spain's migration management and its diplomatic relationship with Morocco.
Abascal said the influx of people was an "act of war promoted by Morocco" [3]. He said the border crossing with Morocco should remain closed until Rabat provides guarantees that such events will not happen again [1].
In addition to militarization, the Vox leader called for the return of Moroccan nationals currently on Spanish territory [1]. He also demanded the suspension of the preferential agreement between the European Union and Morocco [1].
Abascal directed his criticism toward the current administration, saying that "Pedro Sánchez is subjected to Morocco" [1]. The party leader said it is necessary to "militarize permanently the border of Ceuta until it is necessary" [2].
These demands come as Spanish authorities manage the immediate crisis at the border. While some reports focus on increased police and military controls, Abascal is pushing for a more systemic shift in how the enclave is defended and managed [1], [4].
“"The invasion of Ceuta has been an act of war promoted by Morocco."”
This escalation in rhetoric from Vox reflects a strategy to frame migration not as a humanitarian or administrative challenge, but as a national security threat. By calling for the suspension of EU-Morocco trade preferences and permanent military deployment, Abascal is seeking to pivot Spain's foreign policy toward a more confrontational stance with Rabat, potentially complicating the current government's diplomatic efforts to manage migration flows through bilateral cooperation.
