King Mohammed VI met with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, on Wednesday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, where they discussed further fortifying the two adjacent kingdoms’ bilateral relationship, according to a statement by the Royal Office.
The meeting comes nearly a year after the signing of a joint declaration in April 2022, which established a new level of diplomatic ties and collaboration between Spain and Morocco.
The leaders discussed areas of collaboration and mutual interest, as well as Spain’s favorable position on Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan to resolve the Sahara conflict.
Morocco’s autonomy plan would grant the Sahara region a significant degree of self-governance while maintaining Morocco’s territorial sovereignty.
Sanchez reiterated his country’s support for the Moroccan initiative, which is widely regarded as a “serious, realistic, and credible” resolution to the long-running dispute.
The talks also detailed the significant potential for joint cooperation with Portugal, the third of the tripartite group of nations hosting the 2030 World Cup, an event that will further strengthen bilateral and indeed multilateral ties.
Sanchez also affirmed Spain’s interest in King Mohammed VI’s strategic initiatives, such as the Atlantic Initiative for Sahel Region Countries and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.
José Manuel Albares, Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Emma Aparici, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, Fouad Ali El Himma, Advisor to Morocco’s King, and Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs all attended the meeting.
The ceremonial welcome began with a formal greeting for Prime Minister Sanchez at the Royal Palace. Following the meeting, a traditional milk and date ceremony was offered to the Spanish diplomatic mission.
The monarch also offered a luncheon at the royal palace honoring the Spanish Prime Minister, along with Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, Foreign Minister Albares, and other guests.