Iberian media: Moroccan-Spanish dispute over tropical seamount to capture global powers' attention

Spain’s proposal to extend its continental shelf, which aims to secure control over the Tropic Seamount, rich in tellurium, cobalt, and nickel, is facing growing pressure from Morocco, argued a recent report published by the Spanish news outlet Atlántico Hoy.

The same source mentioned that “the United Nations is currently reviewing Spain’s proposal, while Morocco continues to push for greater maritime influence in the region.” 

It explained that “the growing geopolitical significance of mineral resources could attract the attention of other international actors, further complicating the situation.”

In December 2014, the Spanish government formally submitted a request to the United Nations to expand its continental shelf by 296,000 square kilometers, including the area where the tropical seamount “Tropic” is located, rich in tellurium, cobalt, nickel and other vital minerals of high value in many industries, including electronics. 

In 2020, the Moroccan parliament approved two bills demarcating Morocco’s maritime borders on the Atlantic coast, which includes the part claimed by Spain before the United Nations, as it limited its territorial waters to 12 miles, its exclusive economic zone to a distance of 200 miles, and expanded its continental shelf to 350 miles minimum.

Spain stresses that any expansion of Morocco’s maritime borders requires a mutual agreement with Spain as a border country, within the channels established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and international law.

For its part Morocco considers that “determining national maritime areas is an internal matter and a sovereign action that is governed by the express provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982,” and an issue “negotiable between Morocco and the countries that have shores adjacent to our country, in particular the Spanish neighbor.”