[REVISION HISTORY]

Spain-Morocco border security tensions

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2026-10-19 16:58 UTC → 2026-10-20 17:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Tensions between Spain and Morocco have manifested through aviation and maritime incidents near the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. In late September, Spain requested that Morocco adjust drone flight altitudes following an incident near Melilla airport. Although the drones remained in Moroccan airspace, their proximity to approach paths interfered with commercial flight operations, specifically causing a delay for an Iberia aircraft. Madrid formally asked Rabat to ensure drone altitudes do not obstruct commercial aviation in the border region. By October, the focus shifted to maritime security. Following incursions by Moroccan vessels into the territorial waters of Ceuta and Melilla, the Spanish Navy updated its protocols. Moving away from a policy of merely monitoring ‘innocent passage,’ Spanish naval units have adopted a more proactive stance, deploying vessels such as the Atalaya and Isla de León to intercept vessels before they enter Spanish territorial waters. Military sources indicate that Spanish forces have transitioned from passive monitoring via the Maritime Action Operations and Surveillance Center (COVAM) to active interception and close observation of Moroccan ships. This strategic shift aims to prevent unauthorized entry into territorial waters and addresses disputes regarding the legal concept of ‘innocent passage’ under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Morocco has used to justify its naval movements in the region. Recent developments confirm that the Navy will no longer wait for vessels to enter territorial waters before taking action, a move prompted by incidents such as the reported entry of the vessel Mohamed VI into Spanish waters during a period of high migration at the Ceuta border.

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