Spain’s Sahara Stance Strains Relations with Algeria, Key Gas Supplier

Spain’s decision to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara has had serious repercussions on its relations with Algeria. In a statement released on Saturday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "surprise" at this "sudden change of position" by Spain and recalled its ambassador to Madrid, Saïd Moussa, for consultations, recalls El Confidencial.

Algeria accuses Spain of not having informed it of its intentions. "At no time did Albares [the Foreign Minister] tell us that the President of the Spanish government had sent this letter to the King of Morocco. We thought that good faith and transparency governed our relations," lamented an Algerian diplomat.

Read: Algeria Condemns Spain’s Shift on Western Sahara as ’Historic Betrayal’

For its part, Spain assures that this decision will not affect its relations with Algeria. "For Spain, Algeria is a strategic, priority and reliable partner, with whom we intend to maintain a privileged relationship," Spanish government sources said on Saturday. But will Algeria’s anger against Spain be limited to the simple withdrawal of its ambassador in Madrid or could it lead to a breakdown of the gas agreement? This remains unlikely, according to Spanish diplomatic sources.

With this change of position, Spain becomes the third European country to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, after France and Germany. The United States, under the Trump administration, also recognized Morocco’s Saharawi sovereignty in December 2020. For some Spanish observers, Spain’s decision is a diplomatic failure and a failure of Minister Albares.