Spain conducts military maneuvers in the Strait of Gibraltar as part of a strategy to "deter Morocco"

The Spanish army is conducting military maneuvers in the Strait of Gibraltar, coinciding with the existing tension between Rabat and Madrid. However, this did not prevent the two countries from participating in joint military exercises with the US Sixth Fleet in Tunisian waters.

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The military exercises, which began last Sunday and will conclude this weekend, are primarily air-focused, with F-18 and Eurofighter fighter jets participating in a scenario simulating an attack from the south to defend Spain against external threats. While these exercises have been planned for some time, the significant participation of fighter jets is noteworthy.

In parallel with these maneuvers, the Spanish army has increased its forces in some occupied Moroccan territories, such as Ceuta and Melilla , and on some Mediterranean islands, including those very close to Morocco. The Spanish newspaper "The Objective" quoted military sources in Madrid as saying that "the military maneuvers conducted by the Spanish army, whether in the Strait of Gibraltar or the Canary Islands, are usually not welcomed by Morocco." The newspaper added that "Morocco will undoubtedly interpret these maneuvers as part of Spain's deterrence strategy."

The maneuvers coincide with the crisis stemming from the tragedy in occupied Ceuta on July 30th, when nearly 80,000 people stormed the city, resulting in the drowning of 141. This crisis continues to impact the internal political situation in Spain and relations between Rabat and Madrid. It has provided an opportunity for the far-right, particularly some reserve and retired generals, to speak on behalf of the military establishment and emphasize the supposed threat posed by Morocco to Spain. They have asserted that the mass incursion into Ceuta constituted a hybrid war waged against Spain by Morocco. The newspaper "La Razón" is leading the way in reporting on this so-called hybrid warfare.

In this regard, retired General Fernando Alejandre, former Chief of the Spanish Defense Staff, asserts that the events in Ceuta fall under the category of “hybrid warfare,” accusing Morocco of orchestrating the act. General Jesús Argomosa Vella also described the events as part of a “hybrid war” waged by Morocco. Interestingly, the judicial investigation itself adopted this hypothesis, considering the mass incursion an attack on Spain’s unity within the context of “hybrid warfare.”

However, the tension, which included Madrid's show of military deterrence towards Rabat, did not prevent the Moroccan and Spanish armies from participating in the PHOENIX EXPRESS 26 military exercises, hosted by Tunisia since the beginning of last week and scheduled to conclude at the end of this month. The US Sixth Fleet is overseeing these exercises, with the participation of several countries, including host nation Tunisia, Egypt, France, Turkey, and Italy. The exercises encompass ship interception and inspection operations, search and rescue, maritime intelligence sharing, and training in the use of unmanned surface vehicles.