Spain and Morocco Make Progress on Restoring Maritime Links, Officials Say

"Things are improving at the pace they should improve," say sources from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Europa Press, stressing that Spain and Morocco are gradually emerging "from a very deep crisis" and are working to restore relations on new bases, as supported by King Mohammed VI last August, and more recently, in January, by King Felipe VI.

To read: Spain-Morocco Diplomatic Rift Persists, Foreign Minister Says

Spain maintains "fluid" relations with Morocco, José Manuel Albares, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, had declared, assuring that he has regular contacts with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. But the hardest part remains the "restoration of trust," the same sources say, adding that as a general rule, such an undertaking "can take years."

To read: article 90266

The Spanish sources avoid going into the details of the ongoing negotiations with Morocco, but reassure that Spain is pursuing its policy of "outstretched hand" towards Morocco to continue to make progress on issues of interest such as the resumption of maritime links with Spanish ports. They also state that the government is always "ready to listen to its partners who need its help," alluding to Spain’s decision to help Morocco import gas.

To read: Spain Ready to Mediate Algeria-Morocco Crisis, Awaits Request

The same sources do not specify whether Algeria has been informed of this decision, simply stating that it is Spain’s main gas supplier, and that the government wishes to "maintain the best possible relations" with both Algeria and Morocco. But this decision could irritate Algeria, which broke off its diplomatic relations with Morocco in August and closed the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline (GME) at the end of October, putting Spain and Morocco in difficulty in terms of gas supply.