For the first time in history, the autonomous city of Melilla is preparing to host representatives of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The visit is scheduled for late September and has already caused concern within the Spanish government, which seeks to avoid straining relations with Morocco. Although Melilla is not officially under the protection of the North Atlantic Alliance, the delegation from sixteen member countries will nonetheless arrive in the city.
The trip was initiated by Melilla senator Fernando Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu, who recently assumed the post of vice president of the assembly. He also heads the group dealing with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern affairs. Accompanying him to Melilla will be members of the subcommittee on civil security and resilience. The visit is set for September 26 and 27.
Spanish authorities have not hidden their discomfort: Madrid fears that the arrival of such a high-profile delegation will provoke irritation in Rabat, which traditionally considers Melilla an “occupied territory.” In recent years, the Spanish government has made considerable efforts to avoid provoking Morocco. For instance, in September, the centennial celebration of the Alhucemas landing—which played a key role in ending the Rif War—was canceled. For the same reason, the royal couple has yet to visit Melilla and Ceuta.
Nevertheless, preparations for the visit are underway with the involvement of four ministries: Foreign Affairs, Defense, Interior, and Social Policy. The agenda includes discussions on measures to curb illegal migration from North Africa and security issues in Melilla and Ceuta. Delegates will meet with the heads of the local police, Civil Guard, and military garrison, as well as get acquainted with the work of the Spanish army in the city. They will be shown military equipment and attend exercises at the Rostrogordo training grounds.
Interestingly, the itinerary does not include a visit to the border barrier with Morocco; however, the delegation will tour the Temporary Migrant Reception Center. This will allow them to assess the migration pressure, which in recent years has been noticeably lower in Melilla than in Ceuta. The main flow of undocumented migrants is currently directed toward Ceuta, but the parliamentarians will not travel there.
It is still unclear whether the initiative of Senator Gutiérrez Díaz de Otazu will lead to a new round of tensions between Spain and Morocco. However, it is already evident that Rabat is unlikely to remain indifferent to the actions of the People’s Party representative, which governs both autonomies. In July, Moroccan authorities had already expressed dissatisfaction by temporarily closing the recently opened customs posts on the border with Melilla and Ceuta. These checkpoints are expected to reopen after the completion of the ‘Operación Paso del Estrecho.’
It is worth noting that NATO’s collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty does not extend to Melilla and Ceuta. Article 4 allows for consultations in case of a threat, but does not guarantee automatic support. At the Madrid summit in 2022, the possibility of a more flexible interpretation of these provisions was discussed, but no specific decisions were made.
