Toutes les choses étranges qui arrivent au Maroc depuis que Sánchez est président (ou comment lire la crise actuelle)

Spain and Morocco have been navigating a complex geopolitical situation since December 2020, marked by tensions over the Western Sahara issue and shifting international alliances. The relationship has grown increasingly strained following President Pedro Sánchez’s suggestion during a 2019 visit to Morocco that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco could jointly bid for the 2030 World Cup. This proposal was later abandoned when Spain and Portugal announced their own joint candidacy, leaving Morocco outside the equation. In December 2020, amid political turmoil in the United States, former President Donald Trump announced recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, bypassing UN resolutions. This move was part of a broader strategy involving normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel under the Trump administration, which had already facilitated agreements with the UAE, Sudan, and Bahrain. The decision heightened tensions between Spain and Morocco, setting the stage for further discord. The situation escalated in April 2021 when Brahim Ghali, leader of the Polisario Front, secretly entered Spain to seek medical treatment for cancer, prompting a diplomatic row. Spanish authorities attempted to manage the fallout, with Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya insisting that the incident did not affect bilateral ties. However, the controversy continued to simmer. In May 2021, over 10,000 immigrants swam into Ceuta with apparent complicity from Moroccan border officials, leading to a surge in expulsions by Spanish authorities. The crisis underscored growing concerns over migration management and regional cooperation. By July 2021, Spain’s foreign minister, Arancha González Laya, resigned, with speculation linking her departure to the fallout from the Ghali incident and subsequent Moroccan retaliation. Her successor, José Manuel Albares, expressed confidence in strengthening ties with Morocco, emphasizing its role as a close neighbor and ally. Meanwhile, Morocco and Israel signed a defense cooperation agreement, paving the way for the purchase of Israeli missile-defense systems. This deal positioned Morocco as a major arms buyer in the region, shifting traditional supplier dynamics away from France toward the U.S. and Israel. The evolving alliance underscores the deepening complexity of the Spain-Morocco dynamic within the broader geopolitical landscape.