Russia has seized on the migrant crisis in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta to criticize the European Union’s broader migration strategy, with a senior diplomat describing the situation as a clear failure of EU policy.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told reporters in Moscow that the chaos unfolding in Ceuta was being watched with surprise from Russia.
He stated that Moscow expects Spain to resolve the issue while adhering to legal norms and humanitarian principles, framing the incident as evidence of the bloc's inability to manage its external borders effectively.
The diplomatic commentary arrives as internal pressure within the EU intensifies.
Several member states are now calling for Spain to be expelled from the Schengen area unless it regains control of the migrant situation in Ceuta.
The threat of expulsion represents a significant escalation in intra-EU tensions, highlighting the fragility of the border-free zone when faced with uncontrolled mass crossings.