Arancha González Laya calls for deterrence against Morocco

Former Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya has called for a policy of “cooperation with deterrence” in relations with Morocco. Speaking in an interview, she argued that appeasement is ineffective and that Spain must demonstrate to Rabat that aggression carries a cost.

Laya characterized the 2021 Ceuta border crisis, which saw 72,000 people cross into El Tarajal, not as a migration crisis but as a “hybrid attack that uses immigration as a weapon.” Her comments follow a police report from the National Center for Immigration and Borders, which concluded that Moroccan authorities encouraged and directed the mass crossing.

While current Spanish officials have previously downplayed Moroccan responsibility or linked the unrest to external disinformation, Laya emphasized that Morocco maintains sovereignty claims over Spanish territory. She suggested that the most effective deterrence is conducted privately rather than through public threats or empty rhetoric.