Pedro Sanchez pledges to respect Moroccan sovereignty

The Spanish government pledged to guarantee Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as a new phase in relations begins between both countries.

The strengthening of diplomatic ties came after Spain stood behind Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara last month.

“Today, we are entering a new phase in relations with Morocco based on mutual respect, agreements, absence of unilateral measures, transparency, and permanent communication,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a statement, according to Spanish media outlets.

“This new phase will be developed on a clear and ambitious roadmap in order to ensure stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity for both countries,” Sanchez added.

The Spanish government reiterated its “determination” to take on “common challenges with Morocco, cooperation in managing migration flows in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean as well as empowering full cooperation.”

In a related context, the President of the Canary Islands, Angel Victor Torres, announced that Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares will visit the Canary Islands in the upcoming weeks to give further explanations about the letter sent by Pedro Sanchez to King Mohammed VI.

The Spanish Foreign Affairs minister is set to give clarifications regarding the letter from the Spanish Prime Minister to the King, as well as his position on Western Sahara.

Additionally, the Canary Islands President stressed that the most important thing is for the UN envoy to reach a final agreement between both parties to end the 50-year conflict.

“The resumption of relations between both countries will enable better management of migration, mainly in the Canary Islands,” he added.

Recently, Morocco and Spain agreed on drawing out maritime borders off Western Sahara’s coast, part of their plan to guarantee common interests regarding the recent oil exploration.