Morocco sets things right with Spain...

Morocco has set the record straight regarding all matters related to Spain. It was necessary to clarify the points concerning the relationship between Morocco and its neighbor, with which it originally shared a good relationship that evolved, in a qualitative leap, more than four years ago.

The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs was keen to remind readers of the milestones in Morocco-Spain relations and the turning point toward improvement in 2022. At that time, King Mohammed VI received Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

It is important to note in this regard that Spain played a pivotal role, after the United States, in affirming the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, and that the only option on the table is expanded autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.

Spain led the European shift in affirming the Moroccan character of the Sahara. Its role appears very significant given that it had colonized the Moroccan Saharan regions.

This is what the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement highlights, parts of which must be published, indicating that “the Kingdom of Morocco has sovereignly chosen to engage with the Kingdom of Spain in a relationship of geographical good neighborliness, political understanding, economic partnership, and security cooperation. This direction found its highest expression in the Joint Declaration issued on April 7, 2022,” following the meeting between the Moroccan monarch and the Spanish head of government.

The statement noted that “this declaration consolidated a new phase in relations, based on fundamental principles of mutual respect and trust, continuous dialogue, and the aspiration for a partnership yielding mutual benefit.” Thanks to this approach, “both countries, with full will and determination, succeeded in developing what unites them and in containing their differences to address them with considerable moderation and respect, far from any tendency to impose fait accompli.”

Thus, “tangible results have been achieved, particularly at the economic level (Spain is Morocco’s primary economic partner, and the Kingdom is Spain’s second-largest trading partner outside the European Union) and security cooperation (where human lives have been saved and terrorist and criminal networks dismantled, largely at the expense of human and material losses suffered by Moroccan forces).”

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry also highlighted that “cooperation in the field of migration has always been coordinated and effective,” noting that the unfortunate events that occurred last July (the Ceuta incidents) “certainly require a thorough study to determine the circumstances, the parties involved, and to denounce the maneuvers, particularly to ensure they are not repeated.”

The statement continued: “Now, away from any controversy and debate, the voice of reason and a discourse of frankness demand asking direct questions: Why continue to accuse Morocco in the absence of any data, facts, or reports proving any involvement of Moroccan authorities? Why have irregular migrants not been deported, given that the Moroccan government has officially committed to readmitting them? Why are unaccompanied minors kept away from their families, knowing that Morocco has urgently called for their return?” It stressed that “the answer to these questions should not be sought in Morocco, but among the relevant Spanish actors.”

On the Moroccan side, matters have been put in their proper perspective, far from the verbal sparring and political maneuvers that neither advance nor hinder, and which only harm the relationship between the two countries, which share many common interests. This is what Morocco did through the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom, a statement that affirms Morocco’s commitment to partnership with Spain first and rejects posturing on the migration file.

Morocco is keen to consolidate several key points, including its stance of refuting accusations regarding migration, while simultaneously leveraging the strength of its partnership with Madrid. It was notable in recent days that Pedro Sánchez affirmed there is no evidence proving Morocco’s involvement in encouraging migration to Ceuta, the Spanish enclave located on Moroccan soil.

Morocco is raising practical questions regarding migration and remains committed to dialogue with Spain. Furthermore, Rabat calls for fortifying the Moroccan-Spanish partnership, free from political posturing. Essentially, Morocco refuses to be instrumentalized in Spain’s internal political squabbles, emphasizing instead the stakes of its partnership with Spain. There is no willingness on Morocco’s part to engage in the political tensions within Spain.

These are the main points Morocco is focusing on, which are strong arguments that bolster its position. It is no secret that the entry of approximately 70,000 Moroccan citizens into Ceuta on July 30 was the result of circumstances for which Spain bears responsibility, particularly regarding the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision to enforce a different approach for anyone entering Ceuta by sea.

In short, Rabat is dismantling the narratives accusing it and is instead calling for a responsible handling of the migration file without political games. Morocco is defending the outcomes of its cooperation with Spain in the face of political tensions over the migration issue, which serves as a test of the resilience of the Moroccan-Spanish partnership.

Morocco is seeking further development of its relationship with Spain. It is well aware that certain known actors are seeking to exploit the murky waters by attempting to transform migration into a Moroccan-Spanish crisis, a crisis both countries should ideally be spared.

Morocco understands that the status of the two Spanish enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, is not a natural situation. Such a situation can only be addressed through wisdom and patience. Wisdom and patience have always characterized Moroccan diplomacy, which reclaimed the Southern Provinces through a peaceful demonstration (the Green March) more than half a century ago, yet it also knows how to defend, by force, what diplomacy had achieved when necessary.