Morocco Suspends Ties with Germany, Raising Concerns for Spain over Western Sahara Dispute

Due to "deep misunderstandings" on the issue of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, Morocco has just suspended its relations with Germany, several authorities of which have on various occasions not hidden their opposition to the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, considering that this decision by the Trump administration "is contrary to the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council." Yet, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, had urged the Europeans on January 15 to "get out of their comfort zone and follow the dynamics of the United States." "Part of Europe must be bold, because it is close to this conflict," he had declared, alluding to Spain.

According to Ignacio Cembrero, in an article published by El Confidencial, this decision constitutes "a warning" for the Spanish government, which has not yet officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Spain should "adopt a more conciliatory position with Morocco’s interests," says the journalist, who recalls that relations between the two countries have cooled recently. This is evidenced by the postponement sine die, at Morocco’s request, of the bilateral summit initially scheduled for December 17 last.

For its part, Spain is trying to maintain its vague position on the Sahara. The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, while not rejecting the American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, does not fail to insist on the need to "seek the consensus of the international community" on the issue. According to diplomatic sources, Morocco suspects Spain of secretly working for a challenge to the American recognition on the Sahara by the Biden team.

Spain also fears a gradual deterioration of relations with Morocco, as long as it does not officially support the Moroccanness of the Sahara. Morocco could even use this situation as a pretext to suspend its relations with Spain, as it has just done with Germany.

In August 2014, Morocco had already suspended its security cooperation with Spain, after the Civil Guard intercepted by mistake the yacht in which Mohammed VI was sailing in the waters of Ceuta on his way to Tangier.