Spain Denies Flag Removal from Disputed Islets Near Morocco
Spain's Defense Ministry rejects claims of flag removal from disputed islets, asserting ongoing sovereignty.
Key Points
- • Spain denies reports of withdrawing flags from islets El Bar and El Bahar.
- • International media, including France 24, reported the flag removal claims.
- • The islets have not had flags raised on them for over twenty years.
- • El Bar and El Bahar are under Spanish sovereignty and part of the Alhucemas archipelago since 1673.
Spain's Defense Ministry has categorically denied allegations regarding the removal of its flag from two islets, El Bar and El Bahar, situated off the Moroccan coast. These claims surfaced from various international media outlets, particularly highlighted by reports from the Arabic version of France 24 and several Moroccan news websites.
The Defense Ministry clarified that the flags have not been raised on these islets for over twenty years, countering the narrative that Spain had withdrawn its presence subtly.
El Bar and El Bahar are part of the strategically significant Alhucemas archipelago, which has exercised Spanish sovereignty since 1673. This archipelago is located about 280 kilometers from the Iberian Peninsula and has been administered by the Command of Melilla, pointing to its enduring importance in the region's geopolitical landscape.