Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente defended Madrid’s cooperation with Morocco, saying declassified government documents did not support claims that Rabat had organized the mass crossing of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July.
The comments came as Spain’s opposition parties intensified criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s handling of the crisis, after the government released intelligence and security reports relating to the crossing, in which more than 70,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco.
Rabat has rejected allegations by Spanish opposition parties that sought to draw Moroccan authorities into Spain’s political football, ahead of elections.
Morocco’s foreign ministry said no evidence or reports established any involvement by Moroccan authorities and accused Spanish political and media circles of using the kingdom in domestic political battles.
Puente, a senior member of Sanchez’s Socialist government, said the declassified documents did not allow such conclusions.
“The available information in no way allows one to conclude that Morocco organized this attempt at a mass entry,” he said in an interview with Spanish public radio RNE.
He said the documents instead suggested the mobilization took shape on social networks.
Puente also rejected suggestions that an initially insufficient response by Moroccan security forces amounted to proof of deliberate action, saying there were multiple possible explanations, including reduced personnel availability during national celebrations.
He also questioned what practical measures could have been taken at such short notice to stop tens of thousands of people, arguing that hindsight made criticism easier than anticipating an unprecedented event.
Beyond the dispute over the intelligence reports, Puente stressed the importance of cooperation with Rabat on migration and border management.
“Without Morocco’s cooperation, it would be impossible to control the border,” he said, warning against calls for confrontation with Rabat and praising Sanchez’s approach to relations with Morocco.
