HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zerriouh
Spanish King Felipe VI expressed his gratitude on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, for the warm reception he received during his visit to the occupied city of Melilla. This official stop was part of his tour which also included the occupied city of Ceuta, and it garnered significant political and media attention.
Following his visit to Melilla, the Spanish King affirmed that the trip had been scheduled for the current year, indicating that the visit was not a result of recent developments in the region but rather part of a pre-planned itinerary of movements.
These statements come at a sensitive time, given the political and historical symbolism of the Spanish monarch's visit to the two occupied cities, and the stances and questions it raises about the future of Moroccan-Spanish relations, especially in light of the ongoing dispute over the status of Ceuta and Melilla.
The royal visit had been highly anticipated, considered an exceptional stop in the relationship between the Spanish monarchy and the two cities. It also brought the discussion about sovereignty over the occupied enclaves and the implications of Spanish actions on bilateral relations between Rabat and Madrid back to the forefront.
Felipe VI's confirmation that the visit was scheduled before the events of late July comes as an attempt to clarify the background of its timing. This is amidst anticipation of potential stances and reactions that may arise from it, while the issue of Ceuta and Melilla remains one of the most sensitive issues in the relations between Morocco and Spain.
