Political analysts and university professors have pointed out that Morocco has sent several significant messages to Spain through the clarifications issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning recent developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations. Chief among these messages is a reminder of the provisions outlined in the joint declaration of 2022, coupled with a firm rejection of any attempt to turn Morocco into a mere electoral pawn within the Spanish political landscape.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad released a statement addressing the recent strains in Moroccan-Spanish relations. This comes in the context of increasing attacks from Spanish right-wing parties against Morocco and its institutions, as they attempt to shift the blame for the mass migration flows into Ceuta, which took place at the end of July.
Reinforcing Commitments
Abbas El Ouardi, a political analyst and professor of public law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, emphasized that the statement highlighted several strategic points, most notably the historical geopolitical and strategic relationship with Spain as a neighboring country. He further noted that Morocco reiterated the necessity of the agreement signed in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which emphasizes building a relationship founded on trust, cooperation, and diplomatic resolution of disputes. El Ouardi pointed out another critical aspect of the statement: Morocco’s refusal to accept a fait accompli, thereby affirming the need for diplomatic relations grounded in respect and state-to-state logic.
The same political analyst stressed that Morocco's official response clearly rejects any attempts to undermine the relationship due to electoral calculations in Spain. He interprets this Moroccan response as a long-awaited and measured reaction to the rapidly evolving political landscape in Spain following the crises related to the influx of migrants into Ceuta. El Ouardi elaborated that Morocco’s approach demonstrates its desire not to harm its relationship with a partner nation like Spain while simultaneously asserting its status as a country of institutions, particularly the monarchy, and recognizing the diverse areas of mutual interest between the two nations. He concluded that Morocco has not reached a point of conflict with Spain but underlined the importance of maintaining a robust and strategic Moroccan-Spanish relationship based on historical, operational, and institutional frameworks.
Rejecting Exploitation
Mohammed Nashtawi, a university professor and head of the Ibn Rushd Center for Strategic Studies and Policy Analysis, noted that Morocco's official response to the implications of the mass migration crisis towards Ceuta adopts a calm and reliable approach. This strategy is based on presenting facts and data related to economics, security, and migration to counteract the misleading narratives propagated by the media and various Spanish parties. However, Nashtawi pointed out that this approach is also firm in its essence, asserting Morocco's refusal to be used as an electoral tool or scapegoat in internal conflicts. He emphasized that Morocco’s response stems from its understanding that its relationship with Spain is complex, built over many years, and characterized by significant historical weight and mutual sensitivities.
Furthermore, Nashtawi indicated that Morocco is keen to avoid being a subject of competition between right and left, or between populists and extremists. He recognizes that any political leader in Spain, regardless of their ideological leanings, will encounter a changing reality upon taking office—one that is not dictated by slogans or outcries but instead reflects the relationship with a neighboring, economically significant Morocco. He noted that Spain is Morocco's primary economic partner, with Spanish exports to Morocco exceeding 12 billion dollars. Nashtawi added that this Moroccan statement comes at a time when Spain appears to be playing its cards against Morocco, highlighted by its project to grant citizenship to Sahrawis and its renewed relationship 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 currently under pressure, as the Spanish government faces demands to hold Morocco accountable for the events in Ceuta without any documented evidence of Morocco's involvement. In conclusion, Nashtawi asserted that this statement reorients the relationship back to its foundational principles, affirming Morocco's distance from the internal conflicts within Spain and its refusal to be a catalyst for the struggle between Spanish socialists and right-wing parties.
As reported by hespress.com.
