Moroccan, Spanish FMs discuss bilateral ties, situation in Maghreb & Sahel

Moroccan and Spanish Foreign Ministers Nasser Bourita and Arancha Gonzalez Laya held talks on Tuesday through videoconference.

 

Talks focused on regional issues of common interest in the Maghreb, the Sahel and the Euro-Mediterranean area.

 

During their talks, the two officials commended the excellent relations between Morocco and Spain, a country that King Mohammed VI deems as a natural partner.

 

They also highlighted the resilience of bilateral relations.

 

Awaiting the convening of the High-Level Meeting, which will be held as soon as health conditions improve, the two officials agreed to strengthen sectoral cooperation in several areas, including in the economic, cultural and educational areas.

 

The two officials also called for seizing the opportunities offered in the post-Covid context as strategic partners and for capitalizing on the complementarity between the two countries.

In its 2021-2024 Strategy for External Action made public in January, the Spanish Foreign Ministry qualified relations with Morocco as a priority for Spain’s foreign policy, and recommended stronger dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

 

“In the case of Morocco, our great southern neighbor and indispensable partner, the common will of our Governments is to continue enhancing the excellent bilateral relations and extend them into new areas,” the document stated.

 

The document also called for the organization of regular political consultations with Morocco and the holding of high-level meetings.

 

A day after the publication of this document, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya highlighted before the Forum Nueva Economia (New Economic Forum) the strength and maturity of Spanish-Moroccan relations.

 

“The good relations between the two countries are close, deep and solid and are marked by complicity”, underlined the Spanish Foreign Minister.

 

“Spain and Morocco are two partners driven by the common desire to further strengthen their relations in all areas,” she said.

 

At about the same time, King Felipe VI of Spain had also highlighted the importance of the relationship binding his country and Morocco, saying the two countries “share common interests and challenges”.

 

“We hope that the health situation will soon allow us to resume the agenda of meetings with Morocco (…) A country with which we share common interests and challenges”, the Spanish Sovereign had pointed out late January in an address before the foreign diplomatic corps accredited to Madrid.

 

The address was posted on the website of the Spanish Royal Household.