Your Majesty,
With the utmost respect for the monarchy that Your Majesty embodies in Morocco, I write this letter amid growing concern over the gradual deterioration of relations between our two nations. I firmly believe that truth and mutual respect are the only possible foundations for peaceful coexistence. Therefore, I urge you to instruct your government to cease its constant aggression towards Spain immediately and permanently.
The vast majority of both the Spanish and Moroccan peoples desire and seek mutual respect, harmony, and true friendship between our countries. I fondly recall my journeys along the Moroccan coast in 2002, sailing solo aboard my small vessel, the Numancia, from Rome to New York. The warmth, kindness, assistance, and encouragement I received at every Moroccan port of call—Tanger, Casablanca, El Jadida, Oualidia, Safi, Essaouira, Agadir, Tarfaya—left a lasting impression on me. I have visited your beautiful country on several occasions before and after that journey, always feeling welcomed, which has allowed me to deeply know, respect, and love Morocco.
This firsthand experience is complemented by a profound familial and historical memory. My paternal grandfather, Luis de Marichalar, Viscount of Eza, was a key figure in defending Spain. As Minister of War, he decisively promoted the effectiveness and development of the Spanish Legion in 1920 alongside Millán Astray. A year later, during the tragic events of Annual, he did everything in his power to prevent that catastrophe by opposing the unilateral orders given by King Alfonso XIII to General Silvestre, bypassing the military chain of command and the authority of the Ministry. After the tragedy, he advocated for the truth by ordering the creation of the historic Picasso Report to clarify responsibilities and honorably defended the institutions in parliament. Understanding this historical lesson, in which a lack of vision or dereliction of duty can lead to severe tragedies for the peoples of Spain and Morocco, adds rigor and responsibility to my address to Your Majesty.
Concerning Threats to Sovereignty
Today, Spain—specifically Ceuta and Melilla—is once again facing invasion as members of your government question the Spanish identity of these cities, constituting a significant attack on the national sovereignty of the Kingdom of Spain. Ceuta and Melilla have been integral parts of Spanish territory for centuries, long before the formation of modern states. To doubt the Spanish identity of Ceuta and Melilla is not only a ridiculous folly but also a serious violation of International Law and the most fundamental principles of good neighborliness. This situation, Your Majesty, is a grave mistake that has become an unfounded affront and must be urgently corrected to avoid irreparably damaging relations between our two nations.
Morocco is engaging in a dangerous and futile provocation that threatens Spain's national sovereignty. Therefore, I request that you order your government officials to retract their statements immediately and that your security forces ensure rigorous control over the border with Spain. Meanwhile, the current Spanish government remains in a shameful silence, completely derelict in its duties regarding this serious situation. It operates devoid of basic moral principles, necessary virtues, essential honor, and the legitimacy required for the majority support of the Spanish people. The current president, Sánchez, is a blackmailed traitor, corrupted and sold to dark interests that do not align with the legitimate interests of Spaniards. Additionally, various individuals from his Socialist party have been betraying Spain's interests in favor of Morocco for decades. This is evident to all, and your country stands to gain the most from this unfortunate scenario.
Unfortunately, the Spanish people currently lack institutional mechanisms to defend ourselves from the government we endure. However, the sovereignty of Spain resides with us, and we are fully aware of our inalienable obligation to defend our national sovereignty, including our cities located in North Africa, which are Spanish long before other cities situated on the Iberian Peninsula in Southern Europe. Geography should never dictate sovereignty. We Spaniards will always defend each square meter of our homeland because it is our home.
Your Majesty, it is urgent to halt this collision course before it is too late, so we can continue being good neighbors and avoid jeopardizing peace. The monarchies of Spain and Morocco must rise above the political upheavals and governmental circumstances of the moment. As the highest representations of the continuity of our nations and the sovereign will of our peoples, the two crowns are called to be the historical link and institutional guarantee that preserves harmony and mutual respect between our nations.
With this wish for a fair, loyal, and lasting peace, I pray to God to guard and preserve Your Majesty.
As reported by okdiario.com.
Álvaro de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada
Spanish explorer, historian, and businessman
Academician of the Royal Academy of the Sea
