For weeks, Spanish soldiers patrolling Ceuta often had only one loaded firearm for every four or five troops. Many felt exposed. Spanish media, citing Defence Ministry instructions, reported repeated incidents in which just one soldier in a group was armed.
The Defence Ministry has now started handing out pepper spray. The Asociación de Tropa y Marinería Española (ATME), which has pushed for better protection, says the measure misses the point. ATME spokesperson Estructura Antonio Gómez calls it a swap of one problem for another. He says, "It does not solve the underlying problem." The group also says soldiers have received neither clear training nor legal protection for using the spray. The basic issue, too few firearms, remains.
Troops began receiving the spray before written instructions arrived, causing confusion. By Friday, some guidelines had begun circulating, but ATME could not confirm that every soldier had received them. The spray is shared among those on patrol or guard duty, rather than assigned to each person, and passed around at shift changes. Infodefensa and Libertad Digital reported that the lack of clear documentation caused confusion and left soldiers with an uneven understanding of the rules.
The official instructions, titled Instrucciones empleo spray Fitodefensa A-50, specify a 30-milliliter canister of pressurized spray containing 5% oleoresin capsicum. It works at a distance of up to four meters and can deliver about six one-second bursts. The document warns of severe eye and skin irritation, with possible breathing problems. First aid calls for fresh air, then washing with water and soap; users should not rub their eyes. The Defence Ministry says the spray is for use only in cases of aggression or violent resistance, or to protect national property and basic infrastructure. Officials say the rules follow the principles of necessity and proportionality.
Soldiers can use the spray if they are attacked or face violent resistance. They may also use it to defend national property and critical sites. The goal is to stop aggression and neutralize threats, with force applied progressively and proportionately. The guidelines do not address what to do if minors are involved, and soldiers who use the spray on duty have no clear legal support. Spanish weapons regulations allow pepper spray for self-defense under special conditions, but it is not considered standard-issue equipment for military personnel during regular service. Citing this legal ambiguity, ATME has asked the Defence Ministry to clarify the spray’s official status and the legal protections available to soldiers facing complaints or lawsuits.
Gómez points to the legal gray area. "What if the aggressor is a minor? Most are not children but 17-year-olds, sometimes acting in groups or armed with stones." Recent attacks on soldiers in Ceuta have caused injuries and evacuations. ATME says the current approach leaves too many questions. Without clear legal coverage, troops feel exposed. ABC and El Faro de Ceuta report that the Defence Ministry has not answered media questions about using pepper spray on migrants, including minors. That silence has fueled further debate.
The issue made national headlines when PP deputy Ana Belén Vázquez waved a can of pepper spray in Congress. She said it showed the insecurity faced by women and teachers in Ceuta. Security expelled her from the chamber. After the canister was handled, a dozen people suffered eye and breathing irritation, and several bathrooms had to close. Gómez draws a sharp line: "I am told I cannot carry my weapon, but I am given a spray that just got a deputy expelled from Congress for being considered a weapon."
Some patrols have started arming all members with firearms, although this has not been officially announced. ATME says the old rule, one loaded weapon per four soldiers, put too much pressure on one person to make life-or-death decisions for the group. "We are trained to know when and how to use weapons, not to act recklessly," Gómez says. The association wants soldiers recognized as law enforcement agents and military service classified as high-risk work.
The Defence Ministry faces a test over a pepper spray rollout intended as a quick fix. The measure has exposed deeper problems with how troops are equipped and protected at home. Until the government closes the legal and operational gaps, soldiers in Ceuta will continue to feel unsafe.
