The reclamation of both autonomous cities is Mohamed VI’s next objective once he succeeds in resolving the conflict with the Sahara.
The Institute for Security and Culture has produced a report describing Morocco’s movements. A “gray zone” on which to exert its influence with the intention of aggregating the two autonomous cities without the need for war.
The document called Morocco’s pretensions over Ceuta and Melilla from the perspective of the gray zone and which has been written by researchers and academics Josep Baqués, Javier Jordán, Manuel R. Torres and Guillem Colom, talks about Morocco’s agenda to expand its influence over both autonomous cities until its full annexation is achieved, a claim that has long been in Rabat’s discourse.
The aim is to achieve “war-like ends”.
But without reaching warlike conflict: “Consisting of forcing relations between two States in order thereby to alter the *status quo, with pretensions that are similar to those that historically have required a rupture of hostilities”.
“Economic, migratory and diplomatic pressure,” the researchers warn in their report. In a context in which Morocco, according to the document, boosts its military strategy by means of a *five-year plan valued at more than $20 billion to renew and update its capabilities.
They warn: “Actors who promote gray zones take refuge in ambiguity in order to make it difficult to attribute their actions.
*Status quo: an equilibrium or harmony: therefore, when the status quo is disturbed, there is a state of agitation or commotion.
*Five-year: a method of planning a country’s economic growth over a 5-year period.
Source: Instituto de seguridad y cultura