US Denies Influencing Spain’s Shift on Western Sahara Dispute

"We did not push Spain to change its position on Morocco. Spain made its own decision," said Julissa Reynoso in an interview with the daily La Vanguardia in response to the remarks of Igor Belayev, Russia’s ambassador to Algeria. The latter, in a recent interview with the Algerian channel Ennahar, claimed that the change in Spain’s position on the Sahara was due to "pressure exerted by certain parties", without however naming the United States.

On March 18, the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, stressed in a message addressed to King Mohammed VI that "Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute" regarding the Sahara. A gesture of support long demanded by Rabat from Madrid. In reaction to the message from the Spanish senior official, Morocco indicated that it highly appreciates the positive positions and constructive commitments of Spain on the Sahara issue. The two countries, through this exchange of communiqués, have put an end to nearly a year of major diplomatic rift linked to this issue.

In line with the warming of relations between Madrid and Rabat, Pedro Sánchez will make a working visit to Morocco on Thursday, April 7.