The Austrian magazine "Profil" has spotlighted how Morocco employs the issue of illegal migration as a strategic pressure point to extract favorable positions concerning the contentious Western Sahara territory. The article emphasizes that Spain is not the sole victim of Moroccan extortion; Austria and several other European nations are also implicated in this complex geopolitical maneuvering.
Written by Austrian journalist Klara Peterlik, the piece titled "Ceuta: Morocco Also Uses Migration as Leverage Against Austria" delves into the alarming influx of approximately 70,000 migrants from Morocco into the small Spanish enclave within just two days. This sudden surge raises critical questions regarding how such a substantial wave of migration was permitted and why Moroccan authorities did not intervene to prevent it.
One of the principal theories proposed by the magazine to explain this "mass crossing" is that Morocco aimed to exert pressure on Madrid, drawing parallels to a similar incident five years prior when Moroccan authorities allowed around 8,000 illegal migrants to cross into Ceuta in a mere 48 hours, coinciding with the ongoing Western Sahara dispute.
In this context, the publication underscores Morocco's demand for recognition of its alleged sovereignty over the Western Sahara region, which lies along the Atlantic coast in Northwest Africa and was partially occupied following Spain's withdrawal. The magazine notes that this territorial issue serves as a pivotal compass in Morocco's foreign policy, stating, "Those who acknowledge Morocco's stance on Western Sahara are considered partners, while critics should anticipate severed relations." It recalls previous instances involving Germany, France, and Austria before Morocco leveraged similar tactics against them.
On the matter of Austria's experience with extortion, the magazine highlights a significant increase in asylum requests from Moroccan nationals in 2022 and 2023, with many arriving via the Balkan route. The statistics reveal that around 8,700 Moroccans applied for asylum in Austria in 2022, followed by 6,900 requests in the subsequent year, yet the rate of deportations remained exceedingly low.
This spike in asylum applications has raised alarms within the Austrian government, prompting negotiations between the two nations. Notably, Article 17 of the joint declaration encompasses expediting deportations from Austria in exchange for the country's support of Morocco's alleged claims in Western Sahara, marking a considerable political shift, particularly as Austria had previously endorsed the UN-led process in the occupied territory, which included organizing a self-determination referendum.
In a related development, Spanish media reported that Morocco is intensifying its pressure on Madrid, not only through illegal migration but also by threatening to revisit future contracts with Spanish companies if political pressure continues to mount against Morocco's participation in the 2030 FIFA World Cup, in collaboration with Spain and Portugal.
As reported by entv.dz.
