Spanish PM’s Visit to Morocco Sparks Impetus for Roadmap Implementation – Academic

Spanish Government President Pedro Sánchez’s working visit to Morocco is set to provide a strong impetus to bilateral relations and advance the implementation of the roadmap adopted in April 2022, said Zakaria Aboudahab, a professor of international relations at Mohammed V University in Rabat. The visit, marking Sánchez’s first since his recent inauguration, underscores Spain’s unwavering support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco. Aboudahab pointed out that this support has been reaffirmed and renewed, signifying a continuity of initiatives launched between the two countries since 2022. According to Aboudahab, Spain advocates for a strengthened partnership with Morocco, both independently and within the broader context of the European Union. The Spanish Prime Minister’s visit signals a commitment to deepening collaboration and exploring avenues for increased cooperation. As an evaluator expert at the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, Aboudahab stressed the need to establish a concrete schedule for the implementation of mutually agreed-upon projects. He suggested that this process might require the establishment of permanent management structures to ensure the successful execution of collaborative initiatives. During his working visit, Sánchez was granted an audience by HM King Mohammed VI, marking a significant diplomatic engagement. The royal audience served as an opportunity to reiterate Spain’s stance, as outlined in the Joint Declaration of April 2022. The declaration considers Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as “the most serious, realistic, and credible basis” for resolving the long-standing conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.