King Mohammed VI Signals New Era in Morocco-Spain Relations, Spanish Media Reports

The speech of the sovereign addressed to the nation on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of the revolution of the king and the people was widely relayed by the Spanish media. Among them, EFE, La Vanguardia, Europa Press and El Pais, who believe that King Mohammed VI has put an end to the diplomatic crisis with Spain. Publishing parts of the sovereign’s speech, La Vanguardia notes that a thaw has been perceived through precursor events in recent weeks.

Europa Press indicates that "the Moroccan sovereign has argued that Morocco’s objective during the crisis was to review ’the foundations’ of relations with Madrid". "The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, unexpectedly put an end on Friday evening (August 20) to the most important diplomatic crisis in recent years, opened with Spain in May last year between the two countries, after the hospitalization of Brahim Ghali in Logrono," writes El Pais in turn, noting "that in recent weeks, various signs of détente had been perceived, but few expected such a clear and direct commitment from Mohammed VI to renew the understanding with Spain".

According to the newspaper, the dismissal of the former Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, whom the Moroccan government press had designated as the main responsible for this conflict, seems to have unraveled the crisis. In addition, "Moroccan sources had appreciated the gestures of the Spanish government to reorient the crisis since the appointment in July of the new head of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares".