Morocco’s King receives Spain’s PM, opening new page in bilateral ties

King Mohammed VI received this Thursday at the Royal Palace in Rabat Head of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Sovereign, as part of a new stage of partnership set between Rabat and Madrid.

This audience, which is a continuation of the telephone conversation held on March 31 between the King and Mr. Sanchez, comes after the letter he sent on March 14 to the Monarch, saying Madrid is committed to building a new phase in relations between the two neighboring countries on the basis of transparency and mutual respect, says a statement released by the Royal Office.
This new dynamic echoes the call made by the King in his speech of August 20, 2021 to inaugurate a new stage in relations between the two countries, adds the statement.

During this audience, Mr. Sanchez reaffirmed the position of Spain on the Sahara issue, describing the Moroccan autonomy plan as “the most serious, realistic and credible” basis for resolving the dispute.

On this occasion, the Moroccan Monarch and the Spanish PM “reiterated the will to open a new stage in the relations between the two countries, based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, permanent consultation and frank and loyal cooperation”, underlines the Royal Office statement.

In this regard, it was agreed to implement concrete actions to advance the partnership roadmap covering all areas and issues of common interest.

The royal audience was an opportunity to review the various aspects of common interest in their political, economic, security and cultural components.
The two neighbors actually face common challenges, particularly in matters of immigration, border control, terrorism and cross-border crime.

Regional and international issues were also tackled.

The Royal audience reflects the personal involvement of the Sovereign in warming up relations between the two countries and his desire to boost these relations. Actually, the Sovereign who has been closely following the diplomatic crisis with the Northern neighbor has set the stage for its resolution and has played a decisive role that was crowned by Spain’s new position on the Sahara issue and its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, a position that adds to similar positions by global powers including the US, France, Germany and Israel in addition to most countries in Africa and the Arab World.

After the audience, and in a sign of friendship on his part, King Mohammed VI invited his guest to an Iftar, the breaking of the fast in this holy month of Ramadan.

Promising new horizons are now opening up for a lasting partnership between the two neighbors based on mutual respect.

It should be noted that a third of Spanish investments in Africa are injected in Morocco, which is also the second economic partner of the Iberian kingdom outside the European Union, while Spain is the first trading partner of Morocco.

The audience was attended by Spanish FM José Manuel Albares, Ambassador Ricardo Diez-Hochleitner, Moroccan royal advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, FM Nasser Bourita and Ambassador to Madrid Karima Benyaich.