The King invites Morocco to “walk together” to “materialize” a new bilateral relationship

Felipe VI defended this Monday the need for Spain and Morocco begin to “walk together” in order to “materialize” the new bilateral relationship in which both governments say they are working with a view to leaving behind the current diplomatic crisis.

The King took advantage of his speech during the reception of the diplomatic corps at the Royal Palace, in the presence both from the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, to send a message to Rabat.

Thus, after underlining the “strategic nature” that the relationship with the Maghreb and the “interdependence ” that there is in these countries, the King has indicated that both governments “have agreed to jointly redefine a relationship for the 21st century, on stronger and more solid pillars”.

“Now, both nations must walk together to begin to materialize this new relationship,” the monarch warned, stressing that “it is about finding solutions to the problems that concern our peoples.”

Without Karima Benyaich

At the event was not present the Moroccan ambassador in Madrid, Karima Benyaich, but the charge d’affaires since this was called for consultation on May 18 by Rabat, in the midst of a massive influx of irregular immigrants in Ceuta in the context of the crisis unleashed by the reception in Spain of the leader of the Front Polisario, Brahim Ghali , for humanitarian reasons and the Government’s refusal to recognize Western Sahara as Moroccan.

Don Felipe has also referred, although without expressly citing it, to the crisis between Morocco and Algeria, after Algiers broke off diplomatic relations with its neighbor last August and even accused Rabat of bombing and killing three Algerian truckers.

“Our country will continue to make all the necessary efforts to create and consolidate a common area of ​​peace, stability and prosperity” in the Maghreb, the monarch assured, stressing that Spain’s relationship with these countries “is based on sincere and respectful ties of friendship and cooperation that we want to continue preserving and reinforcing with all our Maghrebi partners.”

This has been the pr The first time that Don Felipe has publicly referred to the open crisis with Rabat, initially triggered by the reception of Ghali, who was hospitalized in Logroño with Covid-19 on April 18, and that Morocco recognized that it was also motivated by the refusal of Spain to follow in the footsteps of the United States, which with Donald Trump still at the head of the White House, recognized the Moroccan nature of Western Sahara.

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