The Moroccan government is alleging that Spain has strengthened its military arsenal in the contested Moroccan North African occupied territories of Ceuta, Melilla and the Chafarina Islands. A Spanish military official speaking on condition of anonymity said, "The defense leadership in the Spanish army moved military aircraft, including the Eurofighter, to Ceuta, Melilla and the Chafarinas Islands last week. The aim of this is to put them closer to Morocco and renovate the military arsenal in the two cities under the pretext of facing any future 'Moroccan attack' to regain the occupied territories." | "Occupied territories", huh? Now where have I heard that before? |
Spain has transferred Eurofighter aircrafts and Leopard A 2 tanks to Ceuta and Melilla to augment its army Montisa corps No. 3 in Ceuta and the Qantara corps No.10 in Melilla. The transfers are reportedly compensation for Leopard M 60 tanks that the Spanish government sold to Morocco. | So, you sold them the tanks you are now preparing to defend against? How very European of you. |
The arms transfers coincided with the Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono's state visit to Washington, the first after the election of the current government, for discussions with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Spain is concerned about U.S. intentions to establish a military base in Tantan in southern Morocco, with the Spanish media speculating that the U.S. might abandon its military base in Rota in Cadiz in southern Spain. |