Moroccans to Tel Aviv cheered Spain's King Juan Carlos — but he doubted Melilla

The emeritus King Juan Carlos I's 1979 remark that Melilla was hard to defend and should be negotiated with Segarro, in contrast to the stronghold of Ceuta, highlights Spain's territorial vulnerability and the economic implications of its foreign policy.

## A king's view on territorial defence

In **1979**, the then **King Juan Carlos I** expressed a strategic vision on the defence of Spain's autonomous cities in North Africa. According to testimony, he considered that **Melilla** was not a 'very defensible' territory, suggesting the need to prepare for a negotiation with **Segarro**. In contrast, he saw potential in **Ceuta**, proposing that it could indeed be 'developed to the fullest'. This perspective, conveyed to the director of the **Cesid** (Spain's intelligence service at the time), reveals an early concern for territorial integrity and the complex diplomatic relations with the neighbouring country.

## Economic implications of geopolitics

These remarks, made amid Spain's political transition and growing regional tensions, carry significant economic implications. The perception that a territory is vulnerable can affect investment, tourism and local economic development. The need to 'negotiate' with Segarro, while it may have a diplomatic component, also involves considering trade flows, borders and economic agreements that could arise from a possible redefinition of territory or sovereignty. The strength of **Ceuta**, on the other hand, suggested a commitment to developing it as a strategic enclave.