Spain Tries To Improve Relations with The Maghreb

Image Credit, Luca

After years of tension and divergences with Morocco and Algeria, the Spanish government is working to improve its relationship with the latter, focusing on counterterrorism efforts and the fight against illegal immigration.

In 2022, relations with Algeria nearly collapsed when Spanish President Pedro Sánchez aligned with countries supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, abandoning Spain’s long-standing neutrality on the issue.

Despite this, Algeria maintained its natural gas supply to Spain under the condition that none would be reshipped to Morocco. Madrid accepted and strictly adheres to this condition. Spain merely processes the liquefied natural gas (LNG) that Morocco purchases from other countries, regasifying it while Algeria ensures compliance with the agreement.

Over time, Algeria has returned to its role as a strategic partner for Spain, with counterterrorism and migration control being the two most significant areas of cooperation.

The thaw in relations began when Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, met at the G-20 Summit in Johannesburg. This was followed by a visit from Algeria’s Minister of the Interior and Local Government, Ibrahim Merad, to Madrid, where he met with Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.

Nonetheless, while Spain backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Algeria remains firmly opposed, emphasizing that the United Nations continues to support a referendum that could lead to the territory’s independence. Western Sahara, rich in minerals and coastal fishing, remains a key point of contention.

Grande-Marlaska has described Algeria as a “key partner” in political, police, and migration cooperation. Theoretically, Spain is pursuing the same strategy with Morocco, but Rabat has yet to curb the migration flow to the Canary Islands, a major entry point into the European Union.

The Madrid-Algiers-Rabat triangle remains one of the most critical axes of Spanish foreign policy. However, tensions between Algeria and Morocco have already surpassed the point of mere friction.