Morocco is reported to have tested Spain’s control of Ceuta after a large number of migrants crossed from Moroccan territory into the Spanish enclave. The episode matters because Ceuta is both an EU external border and a longstanding point of tension between Madrid and Rabat, raising concerns over border security, migration management and Morocco’s territorial claims.

Spanish authorities deployed forces and sought greater support as the crossings overwhelmed local capacity. Reports put the number of arrivals at roughly 50,000, while Ceuta’s regional president gave a higher estimate of 60,000; the crisis also recalled a 2021 dispute in which Morocco was accused of relaxing border controls during a diplomatic row with Spain.