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Rabat – King Mohammed VI has expressed satisfaction with the improvement of bilateral ties between Morocco and Spain as part of their agreed new roadmap to deepen relations.
The King made his remarks on the positive development of the Spanish-Moroccan cooperation during a phone call today with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, announced a statement from the Royal Palace.
“His Majesty King Mohammed VI had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency Pedro Sanchez, president of the Spanish government,” the press release said.
The statement added that the monarch welcomed the “evolution” of the new phase of bilateral cooperation that started on April 7, 2022.
New roadmap for stronger cooperation
The date is a reference to King Mohammed VI’s hosting of Sanchez in Rabat. During that visit, which came on the heels of a year-long diplomatic rift between Rabat and Madrid, the two leaders announced a new roadmap for consolidating bilateral relations in a wide range of fields.
Spain had enraged Morocco in April 2021 with the decision to shelter Polisario leader Brahim Ghali.
After initially dismissing Morocco’s concerns, Spain changed course as Rabat froze the bilateral relationship and recalled its ambassador from Madrid. In the ensuing months, the Spanish government intensified efforts to initiate dialogue to mend the badly damaged diplomatic ties with Rabat.
As a result, the diplomatic, strategic relationship between the two countries reached a turning point last year after Spain’s decision to endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
In his today’s phone conversation with the Spanish head of government, King Mohammed VI also welcomed the holding in Rabat of the 12th session of the Moroccan-Spanish High Level Meeting, eight years after its last session.
The high-level meeting opens today, convening senior officials from Spain and Morocco that will discuss cooperation at all levels including trade, security, and fight against irregular migration and terrorism.
“In order to strengthen this positive dynamic in the excellent bilateral strategic partnership, His Majesty the King has invited the Head of the Spanish Government to pay an official visit to Morocco very soon,” noted the statement from the Royal Palace.
The statement stressed that the visit will be an “opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations through concrete actions marked by the tangible projects in strategic areas of common interest.”
