MS Aquarius: why did Spain accept the disputed migrant ship?
New socialist prime minister avoids humanitarian crisis and diffuses political stand-off
 
Spain has accepted a rescue ship carrying 629 migrants which had been turned away by the new Italian government, avoiding a humanitarian crisis and diffusing a political stand-off between two EU countries.
In a statement the country’s new prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he had given permission for the MS Aquarius to dock in Valencia, adding his country would welcome all those on board.
Sanchez went on say that “It is our duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and offer a safe harbour to these people in accordance with international law.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The decision by the new socialist Spanish government provides a stark contrast to that of its Italian counterpart, which on Sunday took the drastic step of refusing entry to the ship.
Italy’s new interior minister and leader of the far-right League, Matteo Salvini, said on Sunday all Italian ports were closed to Aquarius, and insisted the boat should instead dock in Malta.
“Malta takes in nobody. France pushes people back at the border, Spain defends its frontier with weapons. From today, Italy will also start to say no to human trafficking, no to the business of illegal immigration,” he wrote on Facebook.
Sky News says “the refusal - a realisation of tough anti-immigration promises made by Italy's new government - left those on board in mortal danger and prompted a diplomatic spat over the future of migrants travelling across the Mediterranean”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The move was widely condemned by humanitarian groups, with reports that mayors across southern Italy, including in Palermo and Naples, had pledged to defy Salvini’s move and open up their city’s ports to the ship.
However, the European Commission, “anxious to avoid feeding the new Italian government’s anti-EU narrative, took a softer line” reports The Guardian, “calling on Italy and Malta to consider the humanitarian needs of those on board but insisting the matter was outside its control”.
Around 600,000 people are believed to have reached Italy by boat from Africa since the start of the migrant crisis five years ago, with as many as half a million estimated to still be in the country.
While Spain's willingness to take in the Aquarius has surprised many observers, for the new Spanish government “it does make political sense for several reasons” says the BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe.
“The move solves a potentially thorny problem for the European Union, bolstering Pedro Sanchez's hopes of becoming an influential leader within the bloc”, he says.
It also distances Sanchez from the legacy of his conservative predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, and “is likely to impress left-leaning parties such as Podemos which were instrumental in voting the Socialist in to office on 1 June, and whose support he still needs” says Hedgecoe.
- 
 The 7 best police procedurals of all time The 7 best police procedurals of all timeThe Week Recommends There’s more to cops and robbers than just nabbing the bad guy at the end of the show 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Navy jet, helicopter crash half-hour apart off carrier Navy jet, helicopter crash half-hour apart off carrierSpeed Read A US Navy helicopter and a fighter jet both crashed in the same half-hour during separate operations 
- 
 Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime minister Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party 
- 
 Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training 
- 
 Israel and the Gaza flotilla Israel and the Gaza flotillaThe Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships 
- 
 Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users 
- 
 Rise of the far-right: what’s behind the popularity of Vox in Spain? Rise of the far-right: what’s behind the popularity of Vox in Spain?The Explainer Disillusioned younger voters are being drawn to Santiago Abascal’s party 
- 
 China is silently expanding its influence in American cities China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted 
- 
 The Strait of Messina: a bridge too far? The Strait of Messina: a bridge too far?Talking Point Giorgia Meloni's government wants to build the world's longest suspension bridge, fulfilling the ancient Roman vision of connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland 
- 
 How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish