Spanish teacher's statements about Ceuta and Melilla anger Rabat: "Until 1957, the Kingdom of Morocco did not exist"

Spanish historian Margarita Torres recently defended the historical ties of Ceuta and Melilla to Spain during an appearance on the COPE radio program La Tarde, where she questioned Moroccan claims by stating that the Kingdom of Morocco did not exist prior to 1957. Her remarks have generated friction and anger in Rabat regarding the sovereignty of the two Spanish autonomous cities.

Simultaneously, political and analytical discourse has drawn comparisons between Morocco's pressure on Ceuta and Melilla and the Russian "Gerasimov doctrine" of hybrid warfare. While the Spanish government has maintained its defense of Morocco as a loyal and cooperative partner since July 30, ongoing developments have increasingly highlighted questions surrounding Rabat's role and responsibility during the border crises.