Spain Seeks High-Level Meeting with Morocco to Mend Diplomatic Ties

Spain is trying to quickly restore diplomatic relations with Morocco. Recently, King Felipe VI expressed his willingness to "move forward together" and start a new relationship with the kingdom. But Spain’s position on the Sahara is blocking any negotiation for the resumption of relations.

Diplomatic sources have confirmed to Economia Digital that the Moncloa has been working since the summer to arrange a meeting between Pedro Sanchez and King Mohammed VI. The monarch had expressed in August his willingness to embark on a "new unprecedented stage" in relations with Spain. Unfortunately, the tensions have not subsided since then, because the Foreign Ministers of the two countries have not been able to meet.

Read: Spain-Morocco Diplomatic Rift Persists, Foreign Minister Says

"The most important and urgent thing is a meeting between the Foreign Ministers and this is being prepared," diplomatic sources assure. But for some experts, nothing has really moved. "It’s the status quo, we’re still at square one" in the resumption of relations, they say.

José Manuel Albares and Nasser Bourita have indeed had telephone exchanges, but have still not held a physical meeting. Albares has not been to Rabat since taking office last July. The two officials missed two opportunities to meet: at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September, and at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in Barcelona in November.

Read: Spain-Morocco Diplomatic Crisis Persists as High-Level Talks Remain Unscheduled

The Spanish diplomatic sources hope that this meeting between Albares and Bourita will take place in the coming days and will allow "to set aside the differences and address the problems without blackmail or surprise". For its part, Morocco wants to have trustworthy partners. "In diplomatic relations, it is not the neighborhood that prevails, but rather credibility," Nasser Bourita recently said.