Ceuta and Melilla: Can Spain manage geography with the logic of the past?

The recent events in Ceuta highlight the enduring complexities of managing Spanish territories on the North African coast, raising questions about whether Spain can govern this geography with outdated logic. These enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, represent more than just border issues; they are a unique case where historical, legal, and geopolitical factors intersect, making them a significant point in contemporary international relations.

Spanish governments have largely treated Ceuta and Melilla as matters of sovereignty, based on established historical and legal grounds. However, the environment in which these territories exist has changed dramatically. Shifting power balances, evolving security priorities, and the direct impact of migration, terrorism, organized crime, and the security of the Strait of Gibraltar have all reshaped the future of this issue. Simply defending the status quo is insufficient when the underlying environment has transformed.

The study of Ceuta and Melilla moves beyond the question of sovereignty itself, focusing instead on Spain's ability to manage a changing geographical space with political logic forged in different historical circumstances. While law explains part of the situation and history its origin, geopolitics increasingly influences the conditions of its practice and the strategic options available. The debate is no longer solely about the past, but about how that past is interpreted in light of today's geopolitical realities.

The unique geopolitical character of Ceuta and Melilla stems from their location within Moroccan territory, yet administered by Spain from the northern Mediterranean coast. This situation defies simple categorization as an extension of Spanish administration into Africa, as their position introduces dynamics distinct from geographically contiguous territories. Understanding their origins requires looking back to the Iberian expansion on African shores: Portugal occupied Ceuta in 1415, and it transferred to Spanish administration in 1668, while Spain occupied Melilla in 1497. Despite empires changing and borders being redrawn, the status of these two cities persisted, becoming among the oldest unresolved issues on the African continent.