The visit by Spain's PM to Morocco wasn't a reaction to Algeria refusing to meet with Albares

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, clarified details surrounding Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's visit to Morocco on February 21st. Speaking to the press on Thursday, March 7th, Albares refuted suggestions that the cancellation of Sanchez's planned trip to Algeria on February 12th was linked to the Morocco visit.

«The Prime Minister's trip to Morocco had been planned and scheduled well in advance», he stressed.

Albares dismissed speculations that the «surprise visit» to Rabat by the Spanish leader was connected to the indefinite postponement of the meeting between Sanchez and his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf. The Spanish minister attributed the postponement to scheduling issues.

It's worth noting that Albares previously met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat on December 14th. These talks paved the way for the subsequent meeting between King Mohammed VI and Pedro Sanchez.