Political analysts and university professors have noted that Morocco, through the clarifications issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the recent developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations, has sent several messages to Spain. Chief among these is a reminder of the provisions outlined in the joint declaration of 2022, coupled with a firm rejection of any attempts to utilize the Kingdom as an electoral pawn within the Spanish political landscape.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation, along with Moroccans residing abroad, released a statement addressing the recent tensions between Morocco and Spain. This comes against the backdrop of increasing attacks from Spanish right-wing parties targeting Morocco and its institutions, alongside attempts to shift the blame for the mass influx of migrants toward the Spanish city of Ceuta that occurred in late July.
Reaffirming Commitments
Abbas El Wardy, a political analyst and professor of public law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, highlighted that the statement reiterated strategic points, primarily emphasizing the historical geopolitical and strategic relationship with Spain as a neighboring country. El Wardy remarked that Morocco also reminded Spain of the commitments made in the agreement signed in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, which aims to foster a relationship based on trust, cooperation, and the diplomatic resolution of disputes. Moreover, he pointed out that a crucial aspect of the statement is Morocco's refusal to accept a fait accompli, underscoring the necessity of framing relations within a diplomatic context characterized by mutual respect and state-to-state logic.
El Wardy emphasized that Morocco's official response strongly rejects any attempts to undermine the relationship for purely electoral gains, suggesting that this response follows a period of careful consideration amid the evolving political landscape in Spain since the migration crisis to Ceuta. He noted that Morocco's approach reflects its desire to maintain a constructive relationship with a partner like Spain, while also asserting its status as an institutional state, with the monarchy at its forefront. He reiterated that the two nations share a diverse array of interests that intersect across multiple sectors.
Concluding his remarks, El Wardy stated that Morocco has not reached a stage of conflict with Spain, but it is vital to emphasize the operational, historical, institutional, and strategic frameworks that should underpin Moroccan-Spanish relations to ensure they remain robust and strategic.
Rejecting Exploitation
Mohamed Nashtawi, a university professor and head of the Ibn Rushd Center for Strategic Studies and Policy Analysis, commented on Morocco's official response to the implications of the recent migrant influx to Ceuta. He noted that the response adopted a calm and credible approach, presenting facts and data related to the economy, security, and migration to counter the misleading narratives propagated by the media and most Spanish political parties. However, Nashtawi also pointed out that this response is fundamentally firm, confirming that Morocco will not accept being used as an electoral tool or scapegoat for internal political conflicts. He suggested that Morocco's approach stems from its long-standing understanding that its relations with Spain are complex, historically loaded, and characterized by sensitivities and mutual caution.
He further elaborated that Morocco distances itself from becoming a subject of competition between the left and right, or between populists and extremists. The Kingdom is acutely aware that any Spanish political leader, regardless of their political orientation, will encounter a changing reality upon taking office—one that is not dictated by slogans or outcries but rather by a neighboring Morocco that stands as a vital economic partner. Notably, Spain is Morocco's primary economic partner, with Spanish exports to Morocco exceeding $12 billion.
Nashtawi also pointed out that the Moroccan statement comes at a time when Spain appears to be playing its cards against Morocco, highlighting initiatives such as granting citizenship to Sahrawis and renewing relations with Algeria. He stressed that the joint declaration between the two countries, issued on April 7, 2022, following the meeting between King Mohammed VI and the Spanish Prime Minister, is beginning to weaken under the pressure exerted on the Spanish government to hold Morocco responsible for the events in Ceuta, all without substantial documentation or evidence implicating the Kingdom. This statement aims to recalibrate relations to their foundational principles, reaffirming that Morocco remains distanced from the internal conflicts within Spain and will not be a catalyst for the rivalry between Spanish socialists and right-wing factions.
As reported by hespress.com.
