Morocco’s Diplomatic Strategy Outmaneuvers Spain in Bilateral Relations

The recent meeting in Marrakech between Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, following that of April 7 between Pedro Sanchez and King Mohammed VI in Rabat, does not reassure Spanish diplomatic circles about the gradual normalization of relations between the two countries. At the end of this meeting, Albares announced on Twitter that the two countries will "strengthen their economic cooperation and in the fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration," reports El Debate.

"What has happened in recent weeks looks more like a hastily developed strategy than a well-thought-out one developed over time by experts in the field. Instead of calmly weighing the pros and cons of the decision, the Executive acted in haste in the face of Mohammed VI’s anger. [...] Spain’s reaction looks more like a surrender than anything else," analyze sources close to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For the latter, Spain’s foreign policy towards the Maghreb needs to be reviewed. "We have always paid attention to the three legs of a tripod made up of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. With the latest decisions of President Sanchez and Minister Albares, this structure is unbalanced..." develop the same sources who disapprove of these "turnarounds" of the Spanish government that affect its foreign policy vis-à-vis Morocco which, on the other hand, "has a coherent and constant line of action for decades."

According to an expert in international relations who requested anonymity, Spain does not know how to deal with the usual crises, unlike Morocco which has always managed to have the upper hand "each time it has a crisis with Spain." "The Makhzen knows how to wait for the right opportunity; and when our governments show weakness, they take advantage of it," explains the expert.