Al-Arab newspaper addressed, on Wednesday, Spain’s renewed call to Algeria to refrain from intervening in its internal affairs and to adopt a mutual respect approach in bilateral relations.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated in an interview with “El Espanol” that Algeria’s decision to sever relations with Madrid last year was a unilateral move due to Spain’s position on the Moroccan Sahara issue, and constitutes an interference in Spanish affairs.
According to Mohammad Al-Tayyar–a researcher in strategic and security studies–Spain’s request reflects its dissatisfaction with the Algerian regime’s actions after the former declared its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern regions.
Algeria has taken several retaliatory measures against Spain, including suspending the friendship and cooperation treaty signed in 2002, withdrawing its ambassador, and freezing trade operations between the two countries.
Spain’s statement explicitly indicates a serious crisis in Algeria’s diplomatic relations with its regional neighbors, as its relations with Madrid and Rabat are now severed. Al-Tayyar added that Algeria is the entity which created and has perseverated over this dispute in Morocco’s southern provinces.