Twelve days later, but for the first time in history. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, visited Ceuta this Tuesday. Almost two weeks have passed since the historic surge at the border, but it was not that time frame that stood out at the start of the press conference following the meeting with the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas. Albares began his appearance by highlighting that his own visit was a milestone, as never before had a Spanish Foreign Minister visited Ceuta.
And from his appearance, two main lines. On one hand, he highlighted the collaboration with Morocco. Far from the evidence that, at least, Rabat was lenient with the entry of some 80,000 people last July 30, Albares insisted on good diplomatic dialogue.
The other persistent argument of the speech derives from the previous one and is embodied in a promise: “Until the last person who has entered irregularly returns” to their countries. Rabat’s willingness is full, he insisted. “Without asking for anything in return”, he concluded.
Regarding the causes of the attack on territorial integrity, as Pedro Sánchez defined it during his visit on July 31, he exonerated the neighboring country. He referred to the mafias and the false interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling. “No one will remain in Ceuta, neither in Spain nor in Europe,” he emphasized, against the interpretation that would be spreading on social networks.
In recent days, the crisis at the Southern border has led to a diplomatic clash with Italy. The Foreign Minister points to the “reactionary international,” with its connections “in Europe and in Spain,” referring to Meloni and PP-Vox.