Spain & Morocco, an outstanding example of a strong, fruitful and strategic relationship

Spain and Morocco are an “outstanding example” of how neighborhood, with its geographical and historical peculiarities, can be transformed into a strong and fruitful relationship between two friendly countries, which have succeeded in establishing mutual trust, said the head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez.

“Spain and Morocco are, today more than ever, two countries united by multiple links, not only in the present, but as part of a forward-looking strategic relationship,” said Mr. Sanchez in a column he published Tuesday in Spanish El Pais newspaper, under the title “Spain and Morocco: a strategic relationship”.

The Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) stressed that Morocco is today one of the most important partners of Spain, noting that “the close relations that unite the two countries are based on a set of common interests, which the outgoing Government had paid particular attention to during the past year.”

“Spain sees Morocco as a friendly country and a strategic partner of the highest order, with whom we share progress, prosperity and security, and we are working to consolidate stability in the Western Mediterranean,” he wrote in the column, published on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of King Mohammed VI.

He also expressed Spain’s commitment to support Morocco in its relations with the European Union, while encouraging the dynamic of economic, social and cultural exchanges between the two countries in all fields.

Pedro Sánchez underlined in this vein that cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration and the fight against terrorism is “exemplary”.

Morocco plays an international leadership role in this regard, he said, commending “Moroccan authorities’ efforts to address one of the main global challenges we face together: irregular migration”.

In addition, he called on European partners to define a new framework for political and financial cooperation between the European Union and Rabat.

“We must continue to work so that Morocco has the best and the closest possible relations” with Europe, Pedro Sánchez said.

He underlined further that the economic and trade relations between the two countries “have been steadily promoted until Spain consolidated its position as the main trading partner of Morocco”, while the Spanish government aspires to make the neighboring country the first destination of Spanish investments in Africa.