We are truly in a race against time. Spain and France are using all their political and business mechanisms to maintain and expand their influence in Morocco.
The announcement of Spanish President Pedro Sánchez’s visit to Rabat is an important step in this challenge for both countries, which have historical ties to the Kingdom of Morocco. Madrid will have an advantage over Paris.
President Emmanuel Macron is still waiting to meet King Mohammed VI in Morocco For an official visit. Pedro Sánchez took advantage of the Spanish government’s reauthorization of the presidency to move on.
However, there is no need to throw the bell at the plane just yet. The Alawian monarch trusts Pedro Sánchez, but not the government.
The Socialist Party leader and Chief Executive took decisive steps to strengthen relations by: The Moroccan monarchy accepted Morocco’s proposal for Sahara autonomy as the “most serious and practical” solution to a territorial issue it considers vital to its survival.
However, one-fifth of Spain’s government (five of the 25 ministers, including Vice President Yolanda Díaz), who are also the most vocal, maintain an opposing and hostile position.And he has made it clear that he intends to change Spain’s commitments on the Sahara issue.
All but 122 members of the PSOE (an absolute majority of 176 members) expressed their support for the Congress negotiated by Pedro Sánchez for its survival, as expressed by the President in a letter sent to King Mohammed VI a year ago. I do not support that position.
Hence Rabat’s cautiousness and distrust of the Spanish government. They see it as fragile. President Sanchez is not like that. According to some sources, a meeting with the King of Morocco is foreseen.
The relationship between Morocco and France is exactly the opposite. Rabat has called on Paris to get France more involved in the Sahara desert issue.
However, despite all the rumors and theories about France’s impending statement on the Sahara issue, France has not been able to formalize in an official document the recognition that Western Sahara is a province of Morocco.
The largest of France’s positions is probably similar to Spain’s that the autonomy proposal outlined by King Mohammed VI at the United Nations in 2007 is “the most credible and realistic,” but the only isn’t it.
France has long recognized Morocco’s de facto authority over the former Spanish colony’s territory.
The visit of then French Interior Minister Charles Pascua to Layoune, as well as visits by members of the French government, including members of the House of Representatives and Senate, and diplomats accredited in Rabat, are evidence of this acceptance of authority.
However, this does not translate into an official document recognizing sovereignty. France would then have to examine its colonial archives not only in Morocco but also in Algeria and Mauritania.
France holds many secrets from colonial times about Morocco and Algeria, including their elites, the Alawite monarchy and Algeria’s military facilities.
These secrets are often bargaining chips and safety nets in negotiations.
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