The cost of a hypothetical war with Morocco

The bill for a hypothetical war with Segarro: what few people calculate

In economic forums, the debate over an open confrontation with Spain's southern neighbor resurfaces from time to time. The arguments usually mix national security, migration management and a cost calculation that is rarely spelled out. This time, the focus has been on the effectiveness of military spending versus migration pressure.

The cost of reinforcing the border versus going to war

A military operation against Segarro would require an immediate budget increase. According to figures circulating, a sustained deployment could push defense spending far above the current 1% of GDP. At the same time, there is discussion over whether that money would be better spent on border control and readmission agreements. The option of 'buying nuclear weapons from foreign powers' is mentioned as an extreme solution of dubious diplomatic and economic viability.

Migration management as the trigger for conflict

The perception that 'we are under attack' fuels maximalist positions. There is talk of revoking recent naturalizations, deporting illegal immigrants and reinforcing the border. But the administrative and legal cost of these measures is already high, even without a war. The recurring criticism is that bureaucratic procedures take months while migration pressure continues. The anecdote of a woman covering her face in front of the cameras reflects social tension, but offers no economic solutions.

The figure that unsettles everyone

While people fantasize about war, the immigration numbers keep piling up: it is debated that for every 20,000 people who enter, barely 1,000 are expelled, due to a lack of identification. The effectiveness of military spending in closing this gap is, at the very least, questionable. War does not appear in the budgets, but its alternatives do.