Morocco, ‘Top Priority’ for Spanish Foreign Policy – Says FM

« All the presidents of the Spanish government have said that the first priority of foreign policy is Morocco », Albares told the press, on the occasion of the holding of a new session of the « Aqaba Process », an international forum for the fight against terrorism in the Middle East.

He noted that « relations between Spain and Morocco are highly beneficial for both countries », following the adoption of the Joint Declaration of April 7, 2022 and the agreements reached at the High-Level Meeting (HLM) held in Rabat on February 1 and 2.

Alabres cited the « drop in irregular immigration », thanks to cooperation between the two countries, while « we are witnessing tragedies such as the one that occurred a few days ago off the Greek coast, with hundreds of deaths », or « the 305% increase in irregular immigration via the Italian coast. »

What’s more, he pointed out, Morocco’s cooperation is also « fundamental » in the fight against jihadism.

In the economic sphere, Albares emphasized the development of trade between the two countries, pointing out that exports by Spanish companies to Morocco have reached a record figure of 12 billion euros a year.

On the basis of the new roadmap adopted on April 7, 2022, on the occasion of the visit of the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, to Morocco, at the invitation of HM King Mohammed VI, the two countries pledged, among other things, to address issues of common interest in a « spirit of trust and consultation », while reactivating the working groups set up between the two countries to relaunch multi-sectoral bilateral cooperation.