Spain Deepens Political Alignment with Morocco on Western Sahara Amid Secrecy
Spain has intensified its political alignment with Morocco's stance on Western Sahara, adopting Moroccan legal language and limiting public transparency on the matter.
- • Spain's official statement adopts Moroccan terminology and omits reference to Sahrawi self-determination.
- • The summit lacked transparency, limiting public and media access.
- • Spain's concessions risk disturbing strategic balances in the Canary Islands and European frameworks.
- • Civil society condemns the shift as a betrayal of the Sahrawi people, contrasting with diplomatic support from other countries.
Key details
In a significant shift in foreign policy, Spain has aligned more closely with Morocco's position on Western Sahara following the XIII High-Level Meeting between the two countries. The Spanish government's official statement notably avoids mentioning the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and fully embraces Moroccan terminology, marking a departure from previous international legal frameworks. Point 8 of the joint declaration reflects this change by presenting Moroccan autonomy as the only viable solution, a stance not supported by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797.
The summit was marked by a lack of transparency, with reports of restricted journalist access and no public questioning, indicating an intent by Moncloa to limit public debate on the issue. Spain's concessions in the talks risk upsetting the strategic balance in the Canary Islands and impact European legal frameworks, fostering concerns about dependence on Morocco. Despite veiled threats from Morocco's Minister of Industry during the summit, Spain did not respond, further reinforcing perceptions of accommodation.
Civil society and organizations such as FEDISSAH and CEAS-Sahara have condemned the summit, describing it as a betrayal of the Sahrawi people and a deepening of Spain's 2022 pivot supporting Morocco's occupation. As Spain moves to legitimize the occupation and includes Moroccan positions as international consensus, Morocco advances its occupation by integrating energy from occupied territories into its national grid, a fact Spain has yet to address.
Contrasting with official opacity, civil society continues to keep the Sahrawi cause alive in public discourse. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts in countries like Mexico and support for Sahrawi self-determination from Algeria and Belarus stand in opposition to stagnation at the UN, where the Polisario Front has not received legitimate invitations for negotiations, challenging Morocco's claims of an ongoing process.
The lack of transparency and Spain's political shift have drawn sharp criticism, highlighting concerns over the geopolitical and legal implications of this alignment. The developments mark a critical moment in Spain's foreign policy regarding Western Sahara, with potentially wide-reaching consequences for regional stability and international law.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
