US Naval Base in Spain May Relocate to Morocco, Raising Strategic Concerns

Strong concerns in the northern neighbor. Citing Spanish sources, the Israeli television channel i24News reports that "the government of Pedro Sanchez is extremely concerned about the possible transfer of the US military base in Rota to Morocco." A possibility linked to the fact that "the US military bases in Spain are no longer as strategic as they were in the past during the Cold War."

Moreover, the growing terrorist threats in the Sahel and Sahara region are a major concern for the United States and its European allies. Militarily defeated in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State group is gaining influence in these African regions. The Moroccan-American exercise "African Lion 2021" was also held this year in the northwest region of the continent. A region heavily threatened by Islamic extremists.

Some experts believe that the evolution of the regional landscape may force the United States to change its strategy by redeploying its military resources to meet the multiple challenges coming from the Sahel region. Hence, the possibility of transferring the US military base in Rota to Morocco.