Nasser Bourita says Morocco and Spain are experiencing “an unprecedented moment” in their bilateral ties

In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, Mr. Bourita said the two countries must work toward “imaginative solutions” to the main issues still under discussion. These include Morocco’s request to take over the management of the airspace above the Sahara region and the ongoing talks on the maritime boundary to the southwest of the Canary Islands and west of the Sahara.

The minister underlined that cooperation between the two countries has reached levels “without precedent in our history”, particularly in counterterrorism, efforts against irregular migration, economic exchanges and investment, which he said are supported by “impressive figures”.

“Spain is Morocco’s first economic partner. Security cooperation is exemplary, cooperation on migration is effective”, he stated.

Mr. Bourita stressed that the relationship has become “a model between the two shores of the Mediterranean”, crediting this progress to “the commitment” of King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

For Morocco, he said, Spain is viewed as a “reference partner”, and the thirteenth High Level Meeting offered “an occasion for satisfaction”, marked by the signing of 14 new agreements and the identification of new areas for future sectoral cooperation. He described the meeting as “a success”, both in its context and in its substance.

The minister noted in particular that “the Spanish position on the Sahara” has been “an important element in this evolution”. He added that “the political circles that try to contaminate this relationship received today the best answer with the successful implementation of our bilateral relationship”.

Addressing the issue of airspace over the Sahara, currently managed by Spain, Mr. Bourita said it is “anachronistic” that a flight between Marrakech and El Aaioun or Dakhla is partially supervised by a Spanish control tower, especially when the safety of the aircraft depends on Morocco.

On maritime boundaries, where Morocco seeks to extend its exclusive economic zone southwest of the Canary Islands in an area that contains significant resources such as cobalt, tellurium and rare earths, he stressed that this is a matter that affects “the entire Atlantic maritime space”.

In both cases, Mr. Bourita expressed confidence that “innovative solutions” can be found that “preserve the interests of Spain and take into account the realities and rights of Morocco”.

Editorial team/le7tv