France sends troops and drones to Spanish border amid Ceuta migrant crisis
Photo: Migrants in Ceuta (Getty Images)
France is tightening controls along its border with Spain amid the migration crisis in Ceuta. To that end, Paris has already deployed additional security forces, aircraft, and drones, according to French President Emmanuel Macron on Twitter (X).
Macron announces support for Spain
Macron said he stands with Spain amid the migration crisis in Ceuta and remains in constant contact with the country's prime minister.
According to him, Paris is ready to provide any necessary assistance, including through the deployment of resources from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex.
Macron also praised cooperation with Morocco, noting that more than 40,000 people have already been returned from Ceuta to the kingdom thanks to joint efforts.
What's happening at the border
According to the French leader, the interior ministers of France and Spain are coordinating their actions and closely monitoring developments.
He said he had instructed authorities as early as the previous day to strengthen controls along the Franco-Spanish border if circumstances required it.
"Four mobile force units, aircraft, and drones have been deployed," Macron said.
The president stressed that these measures complement policies France has pursued since 2020, including joint units with Spain and coordinated efforts to combat illegal migration.
Focus on Europe-wide measures
Macron said France continues to support European mechanisms for returning illegal migrants and implementing the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
According to him, illegal migration to the European Union fell by 25% last year, with the decline continuing in 2026 along both the Atlantic route and the western Mediterranean route.
In conclusion, the French president emphasized the need for joint action by European countries to protect the EU's external borders and enforce return rules for illegal migrants. He once again expressed support for Spain, its government, and its citizens.
As previously reported, a pro-Russian network has begun exploiting the situation surrounding the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as part of an information campaign against EU countries. Analysts identified more than 1,500 publications on the issue in media outlets linked to Russia's propaganda network, including Pravda and RT.
