In May 2021, approximately 8,000 migrants, including many minors, crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The event occurred after Moroccan border guards appeared to relax security measures, allowing the influx to occur over a period of 48 hours. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, characterized the event as an act of aggression and a challenge to national sovereignty, while Morocco suggested the move was a response to Spain’s decision to host Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, for medical treatment.

There is significant disagreement regarding the primary drivers of this event. Some analysts, such as Stephen Zunes writing for The Nation, suggest that Morocco may have felt emboldened to leverage migration as a diplomatic tool due to shifting international alliances. Specifically, Zunes posits that perceived hostility from the United States and Israel toward Spain may have factored into Morocco's strategic calculus. Conversely, Spanish officials and many European Union representatives framed the incident primarily as a violation of territorial integrity and an attempt to pressure the EU on migration policy. While the physical facts of the crossing are documented, the underlying motivations remain a subject of intense geopolitical debate, with observers split between viewing it as a localized diplomatic dispute and a broader symptom of international power dynamics.