Morocco using migration to pressure Spain over Ceuta: Stephen Zunes | TheBriefWire
Morocco using migration to pressure Spain over Ceuta: Stephen Zunes
Published 4 August 2026 · world
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Stephen Zunes, professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, argued Morocco helped facilitate the mass influx of
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Stephen Zunes, professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, argued Morocco helped facilitate the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta in what he described as a "setup" to increase pressure on Spain. He said Morocco has previously used migration as a form of "extortion" to secure political and economic concessions, while right-wing parties across Europe have exploited the crisis to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.
Zunes noted that Ceuta is outside continental Europe and the Schengen area, meaning the migrants have not entered mainland Spain. He also linked the crisis to Spain's foreign policy, citing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's opposition to the US-Iran war—including refusing the use of US bases and banning overflights—and his support for Palestinian rights.
Zunes said Morocco likely felt emboldened to allow the influx because it expected the United States and Israel to make political capital from the crisis.
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Published: August 4, 2026 • 9:38 AM IST · Updated: August 4, 2026 • 10:40 AM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points· Video
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Stephen Zunes, professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, argued Morocco helped facilitate the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta in what he described as a "setup" to increase pressure on Spain.
He said Morocco has previously used migration as a form of "extortion" to secure political and economic concessions, while right-wing parties across Europe have exploited the crisis to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.
Zunes noted that Ceuta is outside continental Europe and the Schengen area, meaning the migrants have not entered mainland Spain.
He also linked the crisis to Spain's foreign policy, citing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's opposition to the US-Iran war—including refusing the use of US bases and banning overflights—and his support for Palestinian rights.
Zunes said Morocco likely felt emboldened to allow the influx because it expected the United States and Israel to make political capital from the crisis.
The BriefWire