Canary Islands Official Warns: Morocco’s Territorial Ambitions May Extend Beyond Sahara

"We do not share Morocco’s annexationist desires, we fight them," said the Canarian vice president, in response to a question from Podemos Canarias deputy Manuel Marrero about the changes in the positions of the Spanish, French and German governments on the Sahara, fearing that these turnarounds could lead the European Union to also review its position on the issue.

To read: Canary Islands Party Demands Answers on Moroccan Territorial Claims

Rodriguez hopes that Morocco will "never" succeed in exercising its sovereignty over the Sahara, unless the Sahrawi people so decide, adding that after the Sahara, the kingdom will try to annex the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the Canarian waters. This is why the Canarian vice president believes it is urgent to act to delimit the border with Moroccan waters and preserve the sovereignty of the Sahara, reports Canarias7.

To read: article 92651

Rodriguez also recalled that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, will be in the archipelago on May 26 to explain the change in the Spanish government’s position and its possible consequences for the islands. The minister will also have to give the reasons for the absence of the Canary Islands in the Spanish-Moroccan immigration commission working to put in place mechanisms to "deter" migrants.

To read: Morocco and Spain to Discuss Canary Islands Maritime Border in June Talks

However, Minister Albares has already assured that the Canary Islands will participate in the work of the commission for the negotiation of territorial waters aimed at delimiting the border between the Canarian and Moroccan waters "within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".