Morocco-Spain Security Cooperation Persisted Despite Diplomatic Rift

The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, maintained contact and dialogue on a daily basis during the crisis. Spanish government sources have confirmed to El Periódico de España that the two officials and their respective teams have regularly exchanged and as often as necessary. The "police cooperation" between the two countries has never been broken. On the contrary, it has maintained the same level of intensity, they assure.

To read: Spain Affirms Ongoing Police Cooperation with Morocco Amid Migrant Crisis

Even after the arrival in Spain of the Polisario Front leader, Brahim Ghali, and the migration crisis in Ceuta that followed, the Spanish minister was the only member of the Spanish Executive to continue to exchange with his Moroccan counterpart. Since taking office in 2018, Marlaska has already had 14 meetings with Laftit. This permanent communication with Morocco is fundamental for Spain and Europe to deal with jihadist terrorism.

To read: Spain’s Sahara Stance Shift Boosts Border Security Cooperation with Morocco

In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI dated March 14, Pedro Sanchez expressed Spain’s support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, considered "the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the conflict". On April 7, he made a visit to Rabat, which marks the beginning of a "new stage" in the relationship between the two countries, based on transparency and mutual respect.