Spain says most Ceuta migrants returned as U.S. blames Madrid

Thousands of migrants who crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco have largely been returned, but the episode has sparked a sharp transatlantic dispute after the White House blamed Madrid's migration policies. Spain's Interior Ministry says around 37,500 people who entered irregularly since Thursday have been returned to Morocco, while the EU reports no onward movement to the Iberian Peninsula Source: Euronews. At least 43 people died during the crossings, many while trying to swim from Morocco Source: Euronews.

The crisis

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to Ceuta on Friday and blamed people-smuggling networks, saying their actions "deserve our reproach and our condemnation in the strongest possible terms" Source: Euronews.
• Washington took a different view. The White House attributed the surge to Sánchez's "far-left globalist policies, such as facilitating mass migration" Source: Ground News. The State Department called it "this egregious violation of their sovereignty and human rights" and warned it was "considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad" Source: DW. DW notes that Sánchez's earlier amnesty for irregular migrants predates the surge and that new arrivals would not benefit from it Source: DW.

Political fallout

President Donald Trump invoked the image during a Fox News interview: "That's going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in," warning that the U.S. could face a similar situation if Democrats return to power Source: DW. The dispute adds to existing friction over defense spending — Spain rejects NATO's 5% GDP target, which Sánchez calls "unreasonable and counterproductive" Source: Euronews.

What's next

Spain says the returns are nearly complete, and EU officials stressed there are "no migratory movements towards the European continent" Source: Euronews. Still, the U.S. is weighing actions against a NATO ally, and the row could further strain ties only weeks after Trump and Sánchez appeared to ease tensions at the FIFA World Cup final on 19 July Source: Euronews.