Morocco Pressures Spain to Shift Stance on Western Sahara Dispute

"Morocco’s objective is to make Spain bend on the issue of Western Sahara and for the government to publicly review its position on this matter," Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero, a specialist in international relations between Spain and the Maghreb, said on Friday during an event organized by Tribuna Ciudadana to analyze the diplomatic crisis that has been open between the two countries since 2020.

According to Cembrero, while "Morocco knows that [Spain] cannot go as far as the United States," referring to Donald Trump’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, "it can take measures to support the autonomy of the Sahara." Despite the many "gestures and concessions" made by Spain to ease tensions, Morocco does not seem willing to restore relations until Spain reviews its position on the Sahara.

For the Spanish journalist, the end of the crisis between the two countries is not near, despite the statements of the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who recently claimed that the situation "will be restored, but not at the pace of Twitter." Proof of this, the minister has still not met with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, and the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, is still in Rabat where she has been recalled since May for consultations, Cembrero notes.