Algiers – A former Spanish diplomat has criticized Morocco’s interpretation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797 regarding the Western Sahara, arguing that it contradicts the resolution’s actual content.
In a recent commentary, Inocencio F. Arias, a former Spanish ambassador, raised concerns about the implications of Spain’s shifting stance on the Western Sahara, spearheaded by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. He suggested that Morocco might leverage its strengthened position in the territory to exert renewed pressure on the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as the Canary Islands.
Arias’s analysis, published in a Spanish newspaper, highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the Spanish government’s relationship with Morocco and the potential ramifications of the policy shift on the Western Sahara. He emphasized that Morocco’s interpretation of Resolution 2797, coupled with the absence of any tangible benefits for Spain, could trigger future disputes over Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands, effectively reinstating the Western Sahara conflict as a central issue in Spanish foreign policy.
The former ambassador questioned the rationale behind Sánchez’s decision to endorse Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara, a question that has remained unanswered since March 2022. Arias pointed out that the recent Spanish-Moroccan summit occurred without any public appearance by the heads of state, an unprecedented diplomatic move that further fuels speculation surrounding the management of bilateral relations.
He stressed that Sánchez’s decision deviated from the historical position of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which has traditionally supported a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people. Furthermore, the decision was made without any parliamentary debate or prior consultation with the Spanish Congress.
Arias also noted that this shift in foreign policy was implemented without securing any clear advantages for Spain, and the government has failed to explain what benefits Spain has gained in return for this change. The diplomat drew a comparison between this decision and former US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which was linked to the normalization of relations with Israel, highlighting the difference between a strategic international move and a unilateral position that is difficult to justify. The situation remains a delicate one for both nations.
