Political analysts and university professors have noted that Morocco, through its recent clarifications issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the latest developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations, has conveyed several vital messages to Spain. These include a reminder of the stipulations outlined in the joint declaration of 2022 and a firm rejection of turning Morocco into a political pawn within the Spanish electoral landscape. This comes against a backdrop of increasing attacks from Spanish right-wing parties targeting Morocco and its institutions, as well as attempts to attribute the responsibility for mass migration flows to the occupied city of Ceuta in late July.

Reiterating Commitments

Abbas Elwardi, a political analyst and professor of public law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, emphasized that the statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry highlighted strategic points, including the historical geopolitical and strategic relationship with Spain as a neighboring country. Elwardi elaborated in an interview that Morocco has reiterated the importance of the agreement signed in the presence of His Majesty the King and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which calls for a relationship built on trust, cooperation, and the diplomatic management of differences. He pointed out that another crucial aspect of the statement is Morocco's rejection of the status quo approach, underlining the necessity of framing relations within a diplomatic context marked by respect and a state-to-state logic.

The political analyst stressed that Morocco's official response reflects a clear refusal to allow the relationship to be exploited for political gain in the electoral arena. He noted that following the rapid developments in the Spanish political landscape since the migration crisis to Ceuta, this Moroccan reply has emerged after a period of careful and considered reflection. Elwardi further remarked that Morocco's approach in its response reflects its commitment to preserving the relationship with a partner like Spain while simultaneously asserting its status as a nation of institutions, with the monarchy at the forefront. He reaffirmed the diverse areas where the interests of both countries intersect, concluding that Morocco has not reached a point of conflict with Spain but emphasizes the historical, institutional, and strategic frameworks that should underpin Moroccan-Spanish relations to maintain their strength and significance.

Rejection of Exploitation

Mohammed 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 ramifications of the mass migration crisis towards the occupied city of Ceuta, stating that it adopted a calm and reliable approach based on presenting factual data related to the economy, security, and migration, effectively countering misleading narratives propagated by the media and various Spanish political parties. Nashtawi acknowledged, however, that this approach is fundamentally strict, asserting that Morocco does not accept being used as an electoral tool or scapegoat for internal conflicts. He argued that Morocco's strategy stems from its awareness that its relations with Spain are complex and rooted in a long historical context fraught with sensitivities and mutual caution.

He further explained that Morocco distances itself from becoming a subject of competition between the left and right or between populists and extremists, recognizing that any Spanish political leader, regardless of their orientation, will face a changing reality upon assuming power—one that is not governed by slogans or outcries but by a neighboring Morocco and economic partner. Notably, Spain is Morocco's largest economic partner, with Spanish exports to the kingdom surpassing $12 billion. Nashtawi pointed out that the Moroccan statement comes at a time when Spain has begun to play its cards against Morocco, citing initiatives like granting citizenship to Sahrawis and renewing relations with Algeria, while emphasizing that the joint declaration issued on April 7, 2022, following the meeting between King Mohammed VI and the Spanish Prime Minister, is beginning to weaken under pressure on the Spanish government to hold Morocco accountable for the events in Ceuta, without any documentation or evidence of the kingdom's involvement.

In conclusion, Nashtawi stated that this latest communiqué serves to realign the relationship's foundations, reaffirming that Morocco remains distanced from the internal conflicts within Spain and refuses to be a catalyst in the struggle between Spanish socialists and right-wing factions.

As reported by hespress.com.