Ceuta and Melilla: Why the U.S. and China Are Watching Morocco-Spain Tensions

The interest of Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles in the current state of increasing American interest in the cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the exploitation by the American legislature of the current international controversy over them after thousands of Moroccan refugees crossed into the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla illegally and irregularly, to discuss the conditions of Moroccan asylum in Ceuta and Melilla as cities occupied by Spain, as an explicit American recognition of the right of young Moroccan migrants who are irregularly there to stay until their situations are resolved, with the United States of America providing legislative support and participation in defense of their legal presence there, has provoked the ire and anger of the Spanish parties towards the American Congress and the administration of the American President Trump. Therefore, Chinese intelligence circles fear the mechanism of American political exploitation of the current crisis between Morocco and Spain to achieve its interests. The synchronization between the signals of the American Congress and the border crises and irregular migration towards the two Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla has led to a shared Spanish and Chinese security apprehension about Washington’s attempt to use the card of the two enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla to serve narrow American geo-strategic interests that put pressure on Madrid because of its positions against Israel’s policies, far from the ongoing Spanish-Moroccan coordination to contain the repercussions of migration and return those crossing. Therefore, Chinese strategic and military circles are monitoring these developments from the perspective of international competition and the Euro-Mediterranean power struggle between the United States and the European Union. China is keen to intervene in the escalating border crisis between Spain and Morocco, practically applying President Xi Jinping’s principle of a shared future for mankind to this specific crisis. China manages its affairs through cautious diplomacy and avoids direct intervention in regional border disputes, except by offering practical, developmental, and humanitarian solutions to address irregular border migration crises, refugee issues, and employment, in particular.

Hence, the explanatory report accompanying the US Congressional Appropriations Bill included an unprecedented reference describing the cities of Ceuta and Melilla as being located on Moroccan territory. This coincided with a massive irregular migration crisis amidst strategic discussions about the intersections of international influence. The US House Appropriations Committee report explicitly stated that the cities of Ceuta and Melilla are administered by Spain and subject to historical Moroccan claims. The report also noted $40 million in US security and military aid to Morocco, which Chinese intelligence and military analysts linked to direct US diplomatic pressure on Spain. This pressure stemmed from Spain’s support for recognizing Palestine and its unprecedented legislative escalation against Israel following the Gaza war, a move rejected by Chinese intelligence circles. This reflects the divergent perspectives of international and regional actors (Rabat, Madrid, and the European Union) in addressing the current crisis. Following the massive influx of Moroccan migrants and refugees crossing the borders of Ceuta and Melilla in late July 2026, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior attributed the surge to misinformation and human trafficking networks operating through the digital sphere and social media. These networks encouraged young Moroccans, in particular, to risk crossing to the other side, falsely promising them safety. Spanish authorities adopted a policy of containment and return, announcing the return of the vast majority of those crossing to Morocco within hours of the events.

Chinese intelligence think tanks focused on the US Congressional resolution issued on August 1, 2026, following the major crisis of Moroccans crossing into the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla. This resolution directly referred—perhaps for the first time—to Ceuta and Melilla as Moroccan cities occupied by Spain, a significant step that brought the issue of the two cities back into the spotlight within the US legislative body.  The draft US legislative resolution refers to the historic alliance between the United States and Morocco, formally established in 1786 through the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States and Morocco, and considers it one of the oldest continuous diplomatic relationships the United States has maintained. Of particular note, and the subject of analysis within Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles, is the US legislative resolution’s assertion that the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla are indeed located on Moroccan territory. The resolution supports Morocco’s long-standing claims to these cities and endorses all efforts by the US Secretary of State to encourage diplomatic engagement between Morocco and Spain to discuss the future status of Ceuta and Melilla. This can be interpreted as reflecting US President Donald Trump’s desire to pressure Spain to resolve the outstanding issue with Morocco regarding the two Spanish-administered cities.

For the aforementioned reasons, Chinese intelligence think tanks are attempting to find innovative, novel, and perhaps internationally unprecedented solutions to address the crisis of Moroccan refugees and migrants in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, based on President Xi Jinping’s principle of a shared future for mankind. This principle posits that resolving the issue of Moroccan refugees and migrants in Ceuta and Melilla relies on shared responsibility, balanced development, and comprehensive regional and international cooperation, particularly between major powers like China and the United States. This cooperation is based on the principle of shared responsibility, solidarity, and the sharing of international and regional burdens regarding border issues and irregular migration. The Chinese perspective views migration as a humanitarian issue that concerns all countries, rejecting unilateral solutions. Chinese circles encourage continuous coordination between Morocco and Spain instead of unilateral deterrent measures.

Therefore, China officially supports and advocates for the integration of the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla into its Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative aims to foster economic, social, developmental, and humanitarian progress, in line with Chinese border investments along the Moroccan-Spanish border. China also supports the development of border regions to create job opportunities for Moroccan youth and reduce the incentive to migrate. Simultaneously, Chinese intelligence, military, political, and strategic circles are calling for combating smuggling and trafficking networks and dismantling the digital networks that lure young Moroccans with fraudulent travel schemes. Furthermore, China advocates for prioritizing dialogue, sustainable cooperation, and strategic partnership with all parties involved in the current crisis. This includes engaging in discussions with the United States, a major global power with a responsibility to resolve the crisis by building long-term trust that transcends historical disputes over the Spanish-administered cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Furthermore, China proposed the necessity of regulating legal and regular Moroccan migration to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla by establishing safe and legal migration routes that preserve the dignity and lives of Moroccans. This represents a practical application of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s principle of a shared future for mankind, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to address border issues, irregular migration, and humanitarian problems.