Spain-Morocco Maritime Dispute Deepens over Canary Islands and Western Sahara
Pilar Rangel's analysis highlights the legal and strategic complexities in the Spain-Morocco maritime dispute over the Canary Islands and Western Sahara, emphasizing Morocco's claims violate international law and Spain's sovereignty.
- • Morocco's 2020 laws aim to create an EEZ from Western Sahara, violating international law.
- • UN Security Council Resolution 2797 does not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
- • Monte Tropic is geologically part of the Canary volcanic system, reinforcing Spain's territorial claims.
- • Spain must avoid legitimizing Morocco's illegal occupation of Western Sahara by rejecting its maritime claims.
Key details
Recent analysis by Pilar Rangel sheds critical light on the escalating maritime sovereignty dispute between Spain and Morocco, focusing on the Canary Islands and the contested territory of Western Sahara. Rangel emphasizes that Morocco's claim over Western Sahara lacks legal standing as underscored by UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which does not recognize Moroccan sovereignty there. Morocco's 2020 laws seeking to establish an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending from Western Sahara are seen as violations of international law and directly challenge Spain's maritime claims around the Canaries. This dispute includes strategic points like Monte Tropic, which Rangel highlights as geologically connected to the Canary volcanic system, thereby reinforcing Spain's territorial rights.
The article critiques the narrative of Morocco's so-called "technical request" to the UN on maritime borders, asserting no legitimate maritime controversy exists absent Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Accepting Morocco's framework would effectively legitimize an illegal occupation, a position supported by international law expert Juan Soroeta, who insists Spain cannot make decisions concerning Western Sahara without the Sahrawi people's consent.
Furthermore, Rangel links Morocco's maritime claims to wider pressure tactics such as irregular migration and periodic territorial provocations against Spain, with the Canary Islands bearing the brunt of these actions. The Sahrawi conflict is thus deeply intertwined with Spain's maritime security and territorial integrity, reinforcing that Spain's sovereignty over its maritime zones must be defended against untenable claims.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
