Former Spanish PM Aznar Warns of Costly Fallout from Algeria Crisis

Invited on Thursday on the Antena 3 channel, José María Aznar supported that Spain will "pay dearly" diplomatically and politically for its decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, which has led to the crisis with Algeria. For the former Spanish Prime Minister, the management of the crisis with these two strategic allies of Spain by the government of Pedro Sanchez is a "notable diplomatic failure".

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José María Aznar deplores the way the government has changed Spain’s position on the Sahara, "without informing the opposition, without holding a parliamentary debate, or without a referendum to directly ask the Spaniards’ opinion." It is this "unusual" decision by Spain that has "provoked the reaction of our ally [Algeria] with whom we have a strategic agreement that I signed with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2003," he explained, adding that Sanchez has "killed this gas agreement in a context of energy crisis."

To read: Algeria Suspends Friendship Treaty with Spain Over Western Sahara Dispute

According to the former Spanish Prime Minister, Spain is already paying the consequences of this decision. "We are already paying the price in terms of credibility, respect and consideration," he stressed. On June 8, Algeria suspended the treaty of friendship with Spain, in reaction to this decision of Spain on the Sahara which it finds "unjustified." "It is a violation of legal, moral and political obligations," declared the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.