Morocco’s insistence on reopening the Ceuta and Melilla sovereignty debate has pushed Spain into uncharted diplomatic territory. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi’s recent remarks—asserting Rabat’s willingness to negotiate with Madrid over the two Spanish enclaves—have ignited a firestorm in Madrid’s political circles.

In a televised interview, Mr. Ouahbi stated that discussions on Ceuta and Melilla remained « on the table, » framed within a patient, dialogue-based approach. He also criticized Spain’s handling of the late-July migration surge, particularly the repatriation of unaccompanied Moroccan minors, while stressing that Morocco cannot act as Europe’s border enforcer.

The fallout was immediate. Spain’s conservative opposition party, the PP, has demanded the government summon Morocco’s ambassador for urgent consultations. Speaking in Barcelona, PP lawmaker Jaime de los Santos drew parallels with Madrid’s swift response to Italy’s Schengen accord suspension, questioning why a similar stance hadn’t been taken toward Morocco amid the Ceuta border crisis and Ouahbi’s sovereignty remarks.

The PP has escalated its pressure, filing formal written questions in parliament. They seek urgent explanations from Justice Minister Félix Bolaños on Spain’s exchanges with Rabat since the migration crisis began, as well as on the government’s response to Ouahbi’s sovereignty claims. The opposition also highlighted concerns over a potential Moroccan threat to suspend the bilateral extradition treaty—a tool the PP argues is vital for managing border crossings.

The standoff shows no signs of resolution. While the right-wing opposition accuses the Sánchez government of weakness, Madrid has yet to adopt the firm stance demanded by critics. With both sides dug into entrenched positions, the Ceuta and Melilla dispute is once again reshaping Spain’s diplomatic landscape.