The former President of the Spanish government, José María Aznar, sharply criticized on Tuesday the way the Spanish executive is handling the current crisis with Morocco, stressing that the socialist government led by Pedro Sánchez was unable to anticipate the Moroccan response. However, he recalled the current leaders’ responsibility to guarantee Spain’s territorial integrity.
Europe "will not be intimidated by anyone" on the migration issue. A statement made on Wednesday by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, commenting on the massive influx of migrants from the small Spanish enclave of Ceuta coming from Morocco.
The United States Legation in Tangier is 200 years old. On Monday, May 17, 2021, the only historic monument outside American soil celebrated the bicentennial of its existence in Morocco.
Spain has summoned the Moroccan ambassador, Karima Benyaich following the arrival of thousands of Moroccan migrants in Ceuta (Sebta) last Monday. In response, the Moroccan government has just recalled the Moroccan diplomat for consultation.
From Monday to Tuesday, 5,000 Moroccan migrants, including a thousand minors, managed to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. This is the first time in 24 hours that so many people have managed to cross the border between Morocco and Spain.
As tensions remain high in the Middle East, Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has reacted to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab countries, including Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
King Mohammed VI, President of the Al-Quds Committee, has ordered the dispatch of emergency humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has appointed new ambassadors in three countries, including Morocco. These appointments are in accordance with a decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Assembly.
The tension does not subside between Morocco and Spain following the reception of Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario Front. The latest reaction is that of the president of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Aziz Akhannouch, who indicated in an interview that Morocco, intrigued by the attitude of Madrid, needs a clear position in order to restore trust in relations with this country.
Alongside the various diplomatic statements, the Istiqlal party has strongly criticized the decision of Spain to host the leader of the separatists, Brahim Ghali, with the Spanish Popular Party. In a letter addressed to Pablo Casado, the Moroccan political formation has lambasted this stance of the Spanish authorities which it considers "hostile and unfriendly" towards Morocco.
Morocco, which has been steadily strengthening and modernizing its army for years, with the support of the United States, which has moreover recognized its sovereignty over the Sahara, would constitute a threat to Spain.
Morocco takes note of Spain’s decision not to have informed it of the presence of the Polisario leader on its territory and will "draw all the consequences" from it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad said.