Political analysts and university professors have noted that Morocco's recent clarifications from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the evolving relations with Spain send several significant messages to the Spanish government. Chief among these is a reminder of the commitments outlined in the joint declaration of 2022, coupled with a firm rejection of any attempts to use Morocco as a political pawn in the Spanish electoral landscape.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans residing abroad issued a statement addressing the recent developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations. This statement comes in the context of increasing attacks from Spanish right-wing parties against Morocco and its institutions, particularly blaming Morocco for the surge in migration flows to the occupied city of Ceuta in late July.
Reaffirming Commitments
Abbas El Wardy, a political analyst and professor of public law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, remarked that the statement underscored several strategic points, especially the historical and geopolitical significance of Morocco's relationship with Spain as a neighboring country. El Wardy emphasized that Morocco reiterated the necessity of the agreement signed in the presence of His Majesty the King and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which aims to build a relationship based on trust and cooperation while managing differences through diplomatic means. A crucial aspect highlighted in the statement is Morocco's refusal to accept a status quo dictated by circumstances, emphasizing the need for a respectful diplomatic framework where state-to-state relations are prioritized.
The political analyst further stressed that Morocco's official response firmly rejects any attempts to undermine the relationship within the context of pure electoral politics. He believes that in light of the rapidly evolving political situation in Spain, particularly following the crisis of migration flows to Ceuta, this Moroccan response comes after a long and measured period of reflection. It reflects Morocco's commitment to maintaining a productive relationship with a partner nation like Spain while simultaneously affirming its status as a country of institutions, with the monarchy playing a central role. El Wardy concluded that Morocco has not reached a point of conflict with Spain, but it is essential for Morocco to remind both parties of the practical, historical, and institutional frameworks that should underpin Moroccan-Spanish relations to keep them robust and strategic.
A Rejection of Exploitation
Mohamed Nashtawi, a university professor and head of the Ibn Rushd Center for Strategic Studies and Policy Analysis, stated that Morocco's official response to the aftermath of the mass migration crisis towards the occupied city of Ceuta in Spain adopted a calm and reliable approach. This strategy revolved around presenting facts and data related to economics, security, and migration to counter the misleading narratives propagated by the media and many Spanish political parties. However, he noted that this approach is also firm at its core, affirming that Morocco will not accept being used as an electoral tool or a scapegoat for internal conflicts.
Nashtawi pointed out that Morocco's strategy stems from its long-standing recognition that its relationship with Spain is complex, rooted in significant historical baggage as well as mutual sensitivities and caution. He remarked that Morocco distances itself from being a subject of competition between the left and right, or between populists and extremists, understanding well that any Spanish political leader, regardless of their orientation, will face a changing reality once in power—one that is not dictated by slogans or noise, but by the reality of a neighboring and economically partnered Morocco. He highlighted that Spain is Morocco's primary economic partner, with Spanish exports to Morocco exceeding $12 billion.
Moreover, Nashtawi noted that the timing of the Moroccan statement coincides with Spain playing its cards against Morocco, referencing initiatives such as granting citizenship to Sahrawis and renewing relations with Algeria. He emphasized that the joint declaration between the two nations, issued on April 7, 2022, following the meeting between King Mohammed VI and the Spanish Prime Minister, is under pressure to weaken due to the attempts from the Spanish government to hold Morocco responsible for the events in Ceuta without any substantiation or evidence of the kingdom's involvement. This latest statement serves to realign the relations back to their foundational principles, reaffirming that Morocco remains distant from the internal struggles occurring within Spain and will not be drawn into the political rivalry between Spanish socialists and right-wing factions.
As reported by hespress.com.
