The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has insisted in Congress that the military intelligence services, including agents from the National Intelligence Center, acted correctly in the days leading up to the massive influx of migrants in Ceuta and conveyed their data to both the Security Forces and the Government Delegation. However, she has avoided providing further details by claiming that the duty of secrecy is "a burden."
During her appearance before the Defense Commission, Robles expressed her recognition of the work of the military during the migration crisis at the end of July and especially highlighted the work of the Armed Forces Intelligence Center (CIFAS) and the CNI, whose actions were questioned following the massive arrival of people in the autonomous city. As the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, explained in a press conference, no one had warned that a similar episode would occur to what was ultimately experienced in Ceuta at the end of July.
The Defense Minister, however, maintains that the intelligence services fulfilled their duty, including the 25 CNI agents deployed in the area, whose activities are protected by the duty of confidentiality, "which is a guarantee for their actions," although on many occasions "it operates as a burden by preventing publicity for the actions they carry out."
She detailed that these forces "provide their services and carry out their mission in Ceuta, monitoring the situation in the area daily from multiple perspectives: relations with neighboring countries, the geopolitical situation on the southern flank, the actions of organized crime, their use of networks, the rise and increase of jihadist terrorism, and obviously the development of irregular migration, addressing the situation of neighboring countries, the Sahel, as well as destabilizing actions through hybrid threats carried out by international agents."
Prior warnings and coordination with the Security Forces
Robles emphasized that, during those same days, the military "carried out the work that was and is required of them and that they shared and analyzed with the State Security Forces and with the personnel of the Government Delegation."
He added that, in the days prior to the massive entry on July 30, "it was public and notorious" that there were arrivals by swimming to Ceuta encouraged by the manipulation of the Supreme Court ruling that rules out hot returns when a physical barrier has not been crossed.
In this context, he recalled that on the 27th a meeting was held in which the Government delegate in Ceuta, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, and the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, participated, in which it was addressed that social media was inciting to cross the sea by swimming. Even a newspaper already headed its front page with the headline "Ceuta in a state of emergency due to swimming entries," he pointed out.
Furthermore, he explained that on the 29th, the eve of the massive entry, the agents of the CNI communicated to the Government Delegation the existence of a call to access Ceuta by swimming the next day, coinciding with the throne festival in the Maghreb country.
Despite this, Robles has avoided specifying whether that information was reflected in written reports, recalling that intelligence services operate in diverse ways and sometimes do not use handwritten documentation. With this account, he wanted to make it clear that the authorities and the Security Forces had prior data on what could happen.
More than 3,000 military personnel in Ceuta and reinforcement of capabilities
At another moment in his speech, the minister indicated that there are currently more than 3,000 military personnel deployed in Ceuta, most of whom are integrated into the General Command of the city, whose capabilities have been reinforced with units from the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands that are already operating on the ground.
Robles reviewed some of the tasks assumed by the Armed Forces in the autonomous city. In the land area, he explained that they carry out support missions for the deployment of the Civil Guard in the border perimeter, collaborating in surveillance and presence tasks to prevent irregular settlements and to prevent incidents that may disrupt security, as well as in marking routes and in the organization and grouping of immigrant groups.
Action at sea and deployment of the Navy
In the maritime field, the crisis has forced an intensification of surveillance of the waters near Ceuta, identifying possible entry points, placing buoys, and executing various actions at the Tarajal border crossing.
The Navy has taken on part of these missions and has made available to the State the frigates 'Navarra' and 'Santa María' for operations of presence, surveillance, and deterrence in the vicinity of Ceuta, thus contributing to the security of the maritime spaces of sovereignty and national interest.
Alongside them, the patrol vessel 'Vigía' has participated, tasked with maritime surveillance and naval presence duties, and the maritime action ships 'Rayo' and 'Tornado', which have carried out logistical missions, particularly the transport of material from the Canary Islands to the area.
To conclude, Robles has reiterated his recognition to the Armed Forces for their involvement during the crisis in Ceuta and has highlighted the "great work" done by the deployed military.