Spain boasts about its good relationship with Morocco since the turnaround on the Sahara.

MadridIn a joint appearance without questions, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and his Moroccan counterpart, Naser Burita, confirmed that the relationship between the State and the Alawite monarchy is experiencing its "best moment in history," and the underlying reason is the shift Spain took in April 202 toward autonomy (and not self-determination) over the former Spanish colony proposed by Morocco. "[The decision] marked a turning point in the relationship," Burita acknowledged this Thursday.

The meeting, convened unexpectedly this Wednesday night in Madrid, coinciding with the Holy Thursday holiday, does not come at any random time, but rather at the height of Morocco's rapprochement with the United States—representatives from both countries met last week. Donald Trump's arrival at the White House represents a breath of fresh air for the monarchy of Mohammed VI in its desire for international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Burita thus took advantage of the appearance to argue that those who continue to insist on a self-determination referendum "do not want a solution for the Sahara, but rather seek to keep Sahrawi refugees in Algerian territory for another 50 years." However, the meeting also took place two days after a meeting in Paris between Morocco and France. In that case, Burita was also able to assert "the alignment" of Emmanuel Macron's government with the Alawite kingdom's plan for Western Sahara.

Spain sides with Morocco and supports its proposal for autonomy for the Sahara.

Pedro Sánchez's trip to Morocco in 2022 and the shift on the Sahara have opened a period of "trust" between the State and the Alawite kingdom, Burita noted this Thursday, acknowledging that until then "the problems weighed more." The crisis between the State and the monarchy of Mohamed VI escalated with the arrival of the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Gali, in Spain to receive medical aid. "Now we work as allies," the Alawite Foreign Minister expressed.

Albares expressed a similar sentiment, even referring to his counterpart as a "good friend." "The ties are excellent," the member of the Spanish executive emphasized. In Albares's view, all the commitments made to Spain and Morocco three years ago are being fulfilled "at a good pace." Specifically, the Foreign Minister highlighted the progress made in migration control, particularly the fight against irregular immigration, as well as advances in trade.