Spain Faces Migrant Surge as 50,000 Enter Ceuta in One Day; 18 Dead

Spain's Interior Ministry says 18 people were killed as nearly 50,000 migrants attempted to enter the country's North African enclave of Ceuta by land and sea in a single day. The unprecedented influx has overwhelmed border security and created a severe humanitarian and security situation in the area.

On Friday (July 31), the ministry said its estimates showed that around 49,000 migrants had entered Ceuta, whose total population is approximately 84,000.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the situation as a threat to Europe's security and called for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen Area, Europe's 29-member passport-free travel zone.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also criticized Spain's socialist government, saying he supports suspending Spain from the Schengen Area. He argued that irregular and uncontrolled migration poses a threat to national security.

Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, however, rejected the remarks, saying such comments are not what one would expect from the foreign minister of a partner and friendly country. He stressed that Spain expects European solidarity rather than statements driven by domestic political interests.

As tensions between the two countries continue to rise, Albares reiterated his criticism of Tajani, stating that the remarks were inappropriate for the foreign minister of a friendly nation from which Spain expects cooperation and European unity.

Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally party, accused Spain's citizenship policies of opening Europe's doors to various security risks. He said thousands of migrants have been entering Ceuta in recent days and warned that they could eventually spread across Europe, including France, against the wishes of its citizens.

Ashik/M.