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Rabat – Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albarez has responded to Algeria’s attempts to put pressure on the Spanish government following its official endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the Western Sahara dispute.
Albares emphasized on Monday that he did not “want to fuel sterile polemics,” emphasizing that Spain’s new position on Western Sahara is a “sovereign decision.”
“Spain has made a sovereign decision within the framework of international law and there is nothing else to add,” the Spanish FM said.
In March, Spain’s government officially endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan through a letter Spanish FM Pedro Sanchez addressed to King Mohammed VI.
In the letter, Sanchez also emphasized his country’s determination to mend relations with Morocco following the year-long unprecedented diplomatic crisis.
Morocco and Spain witnessed a diplomatic crisis following Sanchez’s government’s decision to allow Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to enter its territory for hospitalization in 2021.
Spain, however, stressed the importance of reconciliation with Morocco throughout the crisis, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the two countries at all levels.
Spain’s official endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan marked the end of the crisis, with both countries emphasizing their willingness to strengthen relations.
The announcement stirred frustration and anger among Algeria’s regime, who recalled its ambassador to Madrid immediately after Spain’s official endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy initiative.
Several Algerian officials also lashed out at the Spanish government, describing its new position as “surprising.”
Last week, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said Spain’s new position on Western Sahara is “morally and historically unacceptable.”
The Algerian government has “very strong ties with the Spanish state,” he said. “But the head of government broke everything” with its support of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the best route to a lasting and feasible solution to the Sahara dispute.
Tebboune’s remarks are in line with his country’s hostility and continued maneuvers to undermine the Moroccan territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.
With the new move, Algeria is attempting to pressure Spain to reverse its decision.
This is not the first time Algeria has made similar moves against Morocco’s territorial integrity. Following Spain’s announcement, Algerian officials suggested that their government would “recalculate” gas prices for Spain.
Recent reports, however, suggest that Spain is not relying on Algeria’s gas like in previous years.
Spain’s imports of Algerian gas dropped to 23% of gas imports in February 2022, compared to 45% in the previous months.
Despite vows to review gas prices, Tebboune claimed that his country would “never renounce its commitments to ensure the supply of gas to Spain whatever the circumstances.”
