Bourita's official visit to Madrid to strengthen diplomatic ties

Thursday 17 April 2025 - 07:46

By: Zahouani Ilham

Bourita's official visit to Madrid to strengthen diplomatic ties

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita is scheduled to arrive in Madrid on Thursday for an official visit aimed at deepening ties with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares. The visit is part of a broader European diplomatic tour focused on securing further backing for Morocco's autonomy proposal to resolve the Moroccan Sahara dispute.

Agenda of the Visit

The two ministers will meet at 11:00 a.m. local time for discussions on key topics, followed by a press conference at 12:30 p.m. The main topics will include: the Moroccan Sahara issue, where Spain will reiterate its support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal; bilateral relations, with a review of progress on the 2022 roadmap; and cooperation on migration, economic, trade, and security matters. Spain will also express appreciation for Morocco’s assistance following the "Dana" disaster, which affected cities such as Valencia.

Context of the Visit

Bourita's visit is part of a successful European tour, which has included France, Estonia, Moldova, Croatia, and Hungary. During these visits, each country expressed its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a viable solution to the Moroccan Sahara conflict. Notably, countries like Hungary and France have expanded consular services in the Sahrawi territories, signaling implicit recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.

Significance of the Meeting

This visit is expected to further strengthen Spain's support for Morocco's autonomy proposal, a stance formally expressed in a letter from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to King Mohammed VI in March 2022. It also aligns with the United States' position, which acknowledges full Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, thereby bolstering Morocco’s diplomatic momentum.