Morocco-Spain: What the new roadmap will be like
Rabat and Madrid bury the hatchet. After several months of arm wrestling, the two countries finally agreed on the new rules of the game. One of these chief new rules is «the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco», enshrined in the message of the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, to HM King Mohammed VI, last Friday. The other parameters of bilateral relations have also been clearly defined.
From now on, relations between Morocco and Spain will be based on «transparency and permanent communication, mutual respect, and on the agreements signed by both parties and marked by the abstention from any unilateral action, in keeping with the importance of everything that we share», according to the presidency of the Spanish government.
Rabat picked up these positive signals and reacted favorably to these new «positive positions and constructive commitments by Spain on the Sahara issue». Today, this evolution of the Spanish position on this strategic issue seems more in line with the principles set by the King in the speech of August 20th. The Sovereign had called for «establishing an unprecedented stage in relations between the two countries, based on transparency, mutual consideration and respect for the commitments made».
On the Spanish side, the recognition of the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic, and credible basis, allows the Iberian neighbor to relaunch a «stable and good relationship», according to the Spanish presidency. For Madrid, «the world needs cooperation between countries and working together on common problems».
In any case, the revival of relations between Morocco and Spain will be based on a new roadmap. Visits from senior officials are on the agenda. First, that of the Spanish Foreign Minister, expected in Rabat before the end of the month. Another, from the President of the Spanish government will also have to be scheduled later. The idea is to define the priority cooperation areas.
On the Spanish side, this new phase «guarantees the necessary stability, and will bring us certainty both politically and in terms of its positive effects on trade between Spain and Morocco». For Madrid, «the density of economic exchanges must be equivalent to that of political exchanges, while being part of a relationship of candor and transparency, mutual respect of interests, and cooperation beneficial to both countries». Rabat is Spain´s third largest economic partner outside the European Union. Spanish exports to Morocco increased by 29% in 2020/2021.
More than 17,000 Iberian companies have commercial relations with Morocco and 700 are established on Moroccan territory, underlined the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs. This economic and trade cooperation is all the more important as global supply chains are currently disrupted due to the repercussions of the war in Ukraine.
Mohamed ALI MRABI
