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Following Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's visit to Morocco on February 21, tensions remain high between Spain and Algeria, according to «Algerian government sources», cited by El Independiente.
These sources believe that Sanchez's reiteration of support for the Moroccan autonomy plan in Western Sahara during the visit falls short of responding adequately to Algeria's recent efforts to improve relations.
«There will be no concessions or additional gestures» from Algeria, the sources stated, suggesting a firm stance in response to Spain's position.
They further indicated that «there will be no more gifts», potentially referring to eventual economic consequences. This statement aligns with Algeria's previous imposition of economic sanctions against Spanish companies in June 2022, following Sanchez's public support for Morocco.
Algeria-Spain Relations : After gestures, renewed tensions
Following a period of strained relations, Algeria recently took steps to improve ties with Spain. These included appointing a new ambassador to Spain in October 2023 and lifting economic sanctions imposed in March 2022. Additionally, Algeria banned transhipment and transit operations of its imports in Moroccan ports in January 2024, coinciding with the EU's new carbon tax.
Algeria expected, in exchange for its initiatives and gifts, a reward on the Sahara issue. However, in Rabat, Pedro Sanchez reaffirmed that his position on the Sahara question has not changed. «It was clearly expressed in the roadmap (of April 7, 2022) and the Joint Declaration (of February 2)» and he reiterated its «commitment to the solution proposed by the government of Morocco, on realistic bases», as specified in statements to the press.
This move led to the cancellation of a planned visit by the Spanish Foreign Minister and fueled Algerian concerns about a supposed «betrayal». An anonymous source close to the Algerian government expressed disappointment, claiming Spain has shifted from neutrality to supporting the Moroccan position.
«Today, Spanish-Algerian relations have entered a phase of cold peace. The Algerians feel doubly betrayed», an unnamed source close to the Algerian government told El Independiente.
«The feeling among Algerian political leaders is that the Sanchez government has deceived them and that what appeared to be a Spanish return to traditional Spanish neutrality over Western Sahara has changed into reaffirmed support for the pro-Moroccan position, to autonomy», the same source lamented.
These developments suggest potential official actions from Algeria. Following Spain's previous support for the Moroccan plan in 2022, Algeria considered shifting its gas exports to Italy and threatened a multifaceted response.
