High Level Meeting between Morocco and Spain on February 1 in Rabat

The high-level meeting between Morocco and Spain will finally take place on February 1-2 in Rabat after months of delays, media have reported.

According to a statement from the Spanish Foreign Ministry, “Spain and Morocco have determined that the twelfth high-level conference will take place on February 1 and 2 in Rabat.”

Senior officials from both nations will meet at the high-level summit, including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, to talk about common interests and the future of Madrid-Rabat collaboration.

The high-level summit was initially scheduled for December 2020, but it had to be repeatedly postponed because of the prior diplomatic spat between Madrid and Rabat.

When Spain decided to hospitalize Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, diplomatic tensions grew in April 2021.

Following the Spanish action, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Spain in protest, calling it a provocation and a “betrayal” of the idea of mutual respect and openness between old partners.

By recognizing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and trustworthy foundation for resolving the Western Sahara conflict in March 2022, Spain took an extraordinary step to strengthen diplomatic ties with Rabat.

Following the announcement, PM Sanchez traveled to Morocco on an official business trip. While there, he met with King Mohammed VI and presented the joint declaration, which outlined the two nations’ commitment to enhancing their collaboration on all fronts, including trade and security.

Jose Manuel Albares, the foreign minister of Spain, promised earlier this month that the high-level conference will take place as scheduled this time. He emphasized that the meeting “will give a new momentum in a bilateral relationship that is being tremendously advantageous for both [countries].”

Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s minister of foreign affairs, stated in October of last year that the postponement would “provide for better preparation for the event.”

“We will have enough time to prepare the parliamentary forum, the business forum, and the mobilization of all stakeholders in this relationship,” he said.