Spanish foreign policy has undergone a historic change with regard to Western Sahara, and it has done so without public explanation, without parliamentary debate, and without accountability. Pedro Sanchez’s decision to recognize the Moroccan autonomy plan as “the most… … A serious, credible and realistic solution to the Sahrawi conflict represents a break with five decades of consensus between political parties and respect for the framework of international legitimacy established by the United Nations. However, this momentous shift is still shrouded in mystery.
Ambiguity fuels doubts. Why was this decision made? And in exchange for what? What did Spain get in exchange for abandoning its traditional position of active neutrality? Was this transfer the price for restoring diplomatic relations after the 2021 crisis, when Rabat allowed a migrant attack on Ceuta in response to receiving the leader of the Polisario Front? Are there any obligations that have not been disclosed? These questions remain unanswered. The House of Representatives was not informed, and citizens do not know the details of the letter that Sanchez sent to Mohammed VI. This lack of transparency weakens Spain’s position vis-à-vis its partners, erodes our foreign policy and undermines the credibility of our democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, Morocco anticipates a possible change of government in Spain and sends explicit warnings to the Popular Party and its leader Alberto Nunez Viejo. He does so through official channels, such as the digital channel Le360 – owned directly by the Moroccan Royal House – and clearly indicates that any attempt to correct Sanchez’s policy will entail retaliation. The most obvious: facilitating migration pressure on the borders of Ceuta and Melilla.
Pressure diplomacy works because Morocco knows that it controls tools that are sensitive to Spain: immigration control and counter-terrorism cooperation. But just because strategic dependence influences our nation’s decisions does not mean we should accept it without explicit guarantees or compensation. Even less so when it comes to sensitive issues such as national sovereignty, the future of disputed territories, or respect for international legality.
It is legitimate that the People’s Party, if it comes to power, would want to review Sanchez’s decision. But you must also be prepared to know all the factors that influenced this shift, including the commitments made, if any, and the geostrategic balance of the region. Morocco has made important advances at the UN and EU – such as marketing desert products without labeling of origin – and recognizes that the international context is more favorable to it than it was a decade ago. The question is whether Spain, as an administrative power until 1975 and a state directly involved in the conflict, is able to continue to act as a passive player.
Returning to a consensus position that defends the right of the Sahrawi people to determine their future and respects United Nations resolutions remains a viable option. But in order to take any path legitimately, it is necessary to uncover the reasons for the current path. Without transparency, there is no state policy. Without state policy there is no possible defense against blackmail or credible negotiating ability with our neighbors. Spain must decide clearly its position, but first it has a duty to know the truth.