Mohamed VI y Pedro Sánchez lanzan una hoja de ruta en común

Mohammed VI and Pedro Sánchez take a new step together. This was announced by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, via Twitter, after pointing out that both heads of state will launch "a road map" that will consolidate "the new stage between two neighbouring countries and strategic partners". This statement would coincide with the preparations for Sánchez's future trip to Rabat as a sign of the good cooperation between the two kingdoms.

What would be Sánchez's second visit to Rabat -the last one took place in 2018- would take place next May, according to sources in the Moncloa, according to Okdiario. The specific date of this future visit is still unknown, although the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has already announced that Sánchez will indeed travel to Rabat as a result of the new diplomatic stage.

Furthermore, the month of Ramadan begins on 2 April and will not end until 2 May, so it is unlikely that Sánchez will visit Rabat during this 'holy month', which is celebrated by all Muslims. 

What is certain is that José Manuel Albares will visit Rabat. The meeting, scheduled for 1 April, aims to seal the diplomatic reconciliation between Spain and Morocco after almost a year of disagreements. In addition to consolidating this new stage, Albares announced that the aim will be to prepare the details of the Spanish President's future visit to Rabat. 

This trip will mark the beginning of a "new diplomatic era" in the bilateral relationship, a stage that will be marked by "mutual respect and territorial integrity", as confirmed by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, at a press conference during his visit to Ceuta.

This visit is a consequence of the government's explicit support for the plan for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a proposal presented by Morocco in 2007 within the UN framework. When this possible solution was presented, Spain indicated that its support would follow the line of the resolution agreed by the United Nations, which called on the parties in 2020 to 'reach a solution (...) with realism and a spirit of compromise, and also encouraging neighbouring countries to contribute to the political process', thus distancing itself from the possibility of holding a Sahrawi referendum, something it supported in 1991.

Now, for Spain, this proposal would be "the most serious, realistic and credible basis" for finding a solution to the Western Sahara issue, a conflict that has been dragging on for more than 40 years. 

These words, issued by Pedro Sánchez in a letter addressed to the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, and published by Rabat, marked the end of a diplomatic crisis whose backdrop was precisely Spain's support for Morocco in its proposal. 

The crisis began almost a year ago, when the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, was hospitalised in a Logroño hospital for treatment of a condition resulting from COVID-19. The leader's admission, which was not agreed with Rabat, was the tip of the iceberg in a list of disagreements that included Morocco's discomfort with its now longstanding position on the Sahara issue.

The US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty during Donald Trump's presidency was the turning point for other countries to follow the US line. On the same day that Trump announced the US position, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the bilateral summit between Morocco and Spain, scheduled for the following week in Rabat.

With Brahim Ghali's entry, Morocco's verbal escalation regarding Spain's stance continued to escalate until Rabat recalled its ambassador in Madrid, Karima Benyaich, for consultations, and a massive influx of more than 10,000 migrants took place, to the passivity of Moroccan security forces.

Two weeks after this entry, Morocco's Foreign Minister, Nasser Burita, confirmed that the diplomatic rift was the result of Spain's stance on the Sahara issue, 'a sacred cause of the entire Moroccan people'. 

Subsequently, the dismissal of Arancha González Laya for being responsible for the illegal entry of Brahim Ghali was a sign of Spain's willingness to re-establish relations between the two kingdoms. The new minister, José Manuel Albares, made it clear that he was willing to settle the situation.

In the following months, the Moroccan king said in his official speech that he aspired to work with the Spanish government in all sincerity and trust" with a view to "inaugurating a new, unprecedented stage in relations between the two countries, based on trust, transparency, mutual respect and honouring commitments".

These statements were taken up by Sánchez, who said he "welcomed these words because on trust, respect and present and future collaboration we can build a relationship on much more solid foundations than those we have had until now".

Then came the negotiations and Morocco's insistence to Spain on 'clarifying positions'. The rapprochement has been taking place little by little until finally culminating in the letter signed by the Spanish president, which makes Spain's new position on Moroccan sovereignty clear.

This letter thus marks the beginning of new relations that are intended to be solid and close between two neighbouring countries that have demonstrated their desire to continue working together, as Sánchez pointed out after stressing that "Morocco is an essential partner for stability and security".