The United States is behind Spain’s change of position on the Sahara

Morocco consolidated its leadership position in North Africa and the rest of the Arab world, after signing the Ibrahim Accords in 2020 under the auspices of the United States, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

To read: Sahara: Did the United States pressure Spain?

Morocco maintains historical relations with the United States, which convinced it to sign these agreements in exchange for recognition of its sovereignty over the Sahara. Morocco had threatened the Americans in 2016 to cede a military base to Russia in the Atlantic Ocean if their demands for the Sahara were not satisfied. Washington, which does not want to lose an important ally like Morocco, understands its weight in Spain’s decision to change its position on the Sahara. Spanish.

Read: Sahara: The United States played a role in changing Spain’s position

Thus, it appears that the United States pressured Pedro Sanchez to strengthen Spain’s relationship with Morocco first during the diplomatic crisis and then to support the Moroccan plan for autonomy in the Sahara to end the crisis. Undoubtedly, the Abraham Accords and the (new) Cold War between Washington and Moscow in the Middle East and the Maghreb led to a change in Spain’s position on the Sahara.