In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE… Bourita describes Moroccan-Spanish relations as an “unprecedented moment” and highlights the strategic transformation between Rabat and Madrid

ALDAR/ Iman Alaoui

In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, affirmed that relations between Morocco and Spain are currently experiencing “an unprecedented moment in the history of the two countries.” His remarks come following the conclusion of the High-Level Meeting held in Madrid, which resulted in the signing of fourteen new agreements and the strengthening of strategic cooperation pillars geared towards the future.

Bourita stressed that the level reached by bilateral relations is “unmatched” across various fields, ranging from counterterrorism to the fight against irregular migration, in addition to economic cooperation and investment. He described the figures recorded in these areas as “remarkable,” noting that Spain has now become Morocco’s first economic partner and that security and migration coordination between the two countries is “exemplary and effective.”

The minister emphasized that this momentum is not coincidental but rather the result of a “direct commitment” by King Mohammed VI and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—an alignment that has led Rabat to consider Madrid a “reference partner” in building a modern Mediterranean partnership.

Reflecting on the success of the 13th High-Level Meeting, Bourita said it represents “a genuine source of satisfaction,” not merely because of the agreements signed, but also due to the political substance that has strengthened mutual trust—chief among them Spain’s position on the Moroccan Sahara issue, which he described as “a central element in the evolution of bilateral relations.” He also addressed those who “seek to poison” relations between the two countries, asserting that the concrete implementation of this partnership “is the best response to them.”

The Moroccan minister also highlighted pending issues that require, in his words, “innovative and creative solutions,” including:

•The management of airspace over the Moroccan Sahara, which remains under Spanish supervision. Bourita deemed it “illogical” that a flight between Marrakech and Laayoune or Dakhla should be controlled by a foreign tower when its security is “entirely the responsibility of Morocco.”

•The delimitation of maritime borders southwest of the Canary Islands and west of the Moroccan Sahara, an area rich in cobalt, tellurium, and rare mineral reserves. He explained that the matter “does not concern Morocco alone” but “the entire Atlantic space,” expressing confidence that both countries can reach solutions that safeguard Spain’s interests while respecting Morocco’s legitimate rights and geographic reality.

Bourita concluded by describing the Madrid meeting as “a success in both context and substance,” reflecting a new level of trust and partnership between the two nations. He affirmed that the future holds even broader prospects for cooperation and that Morocco remains firmly committed to advancing this “historic transformation” in its relations with its northern neighbor.