Perception of Morocco as a Military Threat in Spain
Recent polling data reveals a notable sentiment among the Spanish populace regarding Morocco's status as a perceived military threat. Despite a marked improvement in diplomatic relations between Morocco and Spain in recent years, a significant portion of the Spanish population continues to regard Morocco as a primary military concern, ranking just behind Russia. A recent survey conducted by SocioMétrica for El Español indicates that over half of the respondents perceive Morocco as a major military threat.
This survey, conducted between April 15 and 18, 2026, involved 1,712 eligible Spanish voters and has a margin of error of approximately ±3%. The findings demonstrate that 57.6% of Spaniards view Morocco as a military threat, particularly in light of ongoing tensions surrounding Morocco's claims to sovereignty over the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Furthermore, 61.4% of those surveyed believe that Spain should distance itself from Morocco, whereas only 31.7% advocate for strengthening ties.
Political Divisions and Public Opinion
The survey also highlights a divergence in opinion among political parties in Spain regarding Morocco. A majority of voters from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) consider Morocco a threat, with 52% sharing this viewpoint. Among voters of the Popular Party (PP) and Vox, this perception is even more pronounced, with 97.3% and 92.2%, respectively, labeling Morocco a military threat. In contrast, 62% of voters from the leftist parties, Sumar and Podemos, do not see Morocco in this light and favor closer relations.
This schism in public opinion persists despite the rapprochement policy advocated by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, especially following his 2022 endorsement of Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, which marked a significant shift from the traditional stance of the PSOE. Overall, the data suggests that 67.9% of Spaniards consider Russia the most significant military threat, with a strong desire (74.2%) to distance themselves from it, primarily due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Interestingly, only 29.5% of Spaniards view the United States as a military threat, with a notable 61.7% preferring a closer relationship. In the context of Israel, 52.1% see it as a threat, while 41.9% disagree, and 48% wish to distance themselves from it. Lastly, although 34.2% of Spaniards regard Iran as a military threat amid regional tensions and its nuclear program, a substantial 78.5% affirm the need to distance themselves from Iran.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
