Despite the wide economic gulf between them, Moroccan diplomacy has by far exceeded that of Spain—the size of an economy is not a determining factor in deciding a country’s importance to larger players.
The wound of Algeria was quickly closed without being disinfected, and has continued to rot slowly ever since. It has weakened the French body politic, made sicker by Macron’s intervention.
In a remarkable break with its historic policy, reflecting either incompetence or deliberate national sabotage, the Spanish government has accepted Moroccan designs over the Western Sahara.
The operations of human traffickers operating in Algeria is particularly concerning given that the migration flux they facilitate originates in areas of high-risk for Islamist, Salafi radicalization.
Strong U.S.-Moroccan relations make it difficult for Spain to gain clear assurances from NATO concerning the security of its north African territories. Insofar as these continue to be treated as a bargaining chip, subject to Morocco’s discretion, Spanish political elites are likely to offer concessions in other areas.
Thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants, most of whom appeared to be military-aged males, stormed the land border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla in the early hours of Friday morning, in what was the deadliest illegal border-crossing ever recorded at Melilla.
Italy’s energy infrastructure is not only relevant to its domestic consumption, but to all of Europe, being a key potential entry-point for the EU to receive north African energy, including hydrogen.
