Donald Trump suggested building a wall across the Sahara to tackle Europe's migrant crisis, Spain's foreign minister has claimed.
Josep Borrell said the US President had insisted the type of barrier he has vowed to build along America's border with Mexico would work for Europe as well.
Spain has become a key entry point for migrants who follow a 'Western Mediterranean Route' to Europe from Northern Africa. Many of the refugees are from sub-Saharan nations.
The former President of the European Parliament did not reveal when Trump had put forward his radical idea. But diplomatic sources suggested it had been in June when he flew to the States in a trip coinciding with the visit to the White House of the Spanish King and Queen.
Mr Borrell revealed Trump's Saharan wall 'solution' during a lunch in Madrid organised by cultural association Club Siglo XXI, which was formed in 1969 and is known for holding prestigious debates, conferences and forums.
Spanish daily El Pais said he had made it clear he disagreed with Donald Trump's diagnosis but insisted a policy had to be put in place to deal with the fact Africa would double its population in the next 20 years.
Mr Borrell also took the opportunity at the event in Madrid to attack Italy's right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini who made his mark in the job by turning away a boatload of more than 600 African refugees in June and leaving Spain to pick up the pieces.
Spain has overtaken Italy and Greece as a popular entry point for migrants.
EU border agency Frontex registered 12,500 arrivals in August - with 6,500 of them reaching Spain's Mediterranean coastline and making the country the main EU port of arrival for migrants for the second month running.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
