Spain reassures Canary Islands about Moroccan military exercises near Archipelago

Addressing concerns expressed by the Canary Islands government about Morocco's naval military exercises near the Spanish archipelago, the Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed that they are happening «well outside the Spanish territorial sea».

Spanish media, quoting Foreign Ministry sources, reported that Minister José Manuel Alvarez conveyed this to Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo, who ended the conversation satisfied with the explanations and details provided to him about the maneuvers. The two sides agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting «in the near future» to address the issue.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Alvarez and Clavijo agreed on the importance of maintaining the current phase of good relations with Morocco for Spain and the Canary Islands, while the head of Spanish diplomacy emphasized his «permanent readiness» to deal with any issue related to the Canary Islands.

The Moroccan military exercises, which are taking place 125 kilometers off the coast of the Canary Islands, began last Friday and will continue for three months.