Rabat – A new survey by Spain’s Elcano Royal Institute shows that 55% of Spanish people view Morocco as a main external threat to their country.
The number marks a six-point increase from a similar survey that the institute carried out last year.
Conducted between May 19-29 this year, the survey featured responses from 1,000 participants.
The findings ranked Morocco higher than Russia in terms of how much the North African country is perceived as a threat among Spaniards.
Russia comes next with 33% of votes and the US with 19% – the latter marking a surge from 5% in 2024.
According to the survey, the perception of Morocco as an external threat is stronger among right-wing respondents.
Over 60% of the respondents, meanwhile, see Spain as safe from immediate threat from other countries, while 40% of others disagree.
The perception of Morocco as a threat is fueled by different factors, including narratives in the Spanish media, which closely monitor the country’s development across multiple sectors, particularly the military.
In November, Spanish media were concerned about US President Donald Trump’s re-election as well as the strengthened ties between Rabat and Washington, with local analysts warning of the potential implications for Spain’s interests and influence in the Mediterranean.
Spanish newspaper El Confidencial quoted Jose Antonio Gurpegui claiming that the strong ties between Morocco and the US will influence any future disputes between Rabat and Madrid.
A few months ago, Spanish media also warned of growing threats to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Several publications expressed alarm over potential shifts in the enclaves’ status under Donald Trump’s second US presidency.
“In the realm of security, there is concern that Trump could make an announcement about Ceuta and Melilla similar to what he did about Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara,” El Español reported in an analysis published in February.
Spanish media outlets are also concerned about Morocco’s robust and growing military, viewing it as a threat rather than a sovereign strategic choice.
El Independiente claimed in March that Morocco’s advancement in aviation “poses a challenge to neighboring armies, including Spain,” adding that “the Spanish case is particularly striking,”
Spanish media are also alarmed by Morocco’s infrastructure and economic development, with many reports highlighting the country’s performance in terms of port activities, among others.
Notably, Spanish media are concerned about the good performance that Morocco’s Tangier Med Port has been achieving in the past years, drawing comparisons between the Moroccan hub and Algeciras and other central Spanish ports.
