Algeciras Mayor José Ignacio Landaluce has voiced strong opposition to the U.S. decision to reroute major maritime traffic from Spain’s Algeciras port to Morocco’s Tangier-Med, warning that the move could have widespread economic consequences for Spain and Europe.
In remarks made Monday on esRadio’s Es la Mañana, Landaluce called the decision “deeply damaging” and said it would reduce port activity, leading to job losses and an economic downturn not only in the Campo de Gibraltar region but across the continent.
“This is not just an Algeciras or Spanish issue,” Landaluce said. “This affects European logistics, as the port of Algeciras is a vital strategic hub for the European Union.”
The comments follow media reports that the U.S. has designated Morocco’s Tangier-Med port as its new principal maritime hub on a major shipping route connecting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The move reportedly sidelines Algeciras from a key transcontinental pact linking North America with East Asia.
The shift, described by Spanish media as a “drastic realignment,” comes amid mounting political and military tensions and growing diplomatic rifts between Spain and the United States.
Landaluce pointed to what he described as consistent failures by Spain’s national government in negotiations with Washington, claiming that “every time Spain deals with the U.S., we lose.”
He also noted that Algeciras ranks as the most efficient of more than 1,200 European ports and tenth worldwide, underscoring what he sees as the strategic importance of the facility to global trade.
American shipping giants Maersk Line Limited and American President Lines cited “operational and cost considerations,” including shorter transit times and avoidance of European Union regulatory surcharges, as reasons for the rerouting.
However, Spanish media outlets have linked the timing of the move to a diplomatic dispute involving the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The controversy stems from Spain’s refusal in November 2024 to allow two U.S.-flagged container ships — the Maersk Denver and the Maersk Seletar — to dock in Algeciras over suspicions they were carrying materials bound for Israel.
The FMC has since launched an investigation into the incident, raising further questions about whether political tensions are influencing trade decisions.
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