Beneath the Atlantic, between Morocco and the Canary Islands, a underwater mountain rich in strategic minerals is transforming an old border dispute into a major issue for Spain, the kingdom, and the European Union.
The Spanish Navy has deployed the Centinela in the Alboran Sea to monitor communication cables and underwater energy pipelines . The vessel patrols in a strategic zone between Spain and Morocco.
Morocco has on paper a much larger tank fleet than Spain. Faced with this numerical advantage, Madrid highlights the modernity of its Leopards, their homogeneity and what is considered simpler logistics.
Spain is investing 6.5 million euros to modernize its military capabilities on Alboran Island, territory that Spanish media presents as claimed by Morocco . Radar, electro-optical sensors and laser rangefinders are set to strengthen maritime surveillance.
Long considered the undisputed favorite, the Santiago-Bernabéu stadium now sees Morocco making a strong comeback in the race for the 2030 World Cup final. The future Hassan II stadium in Casablanca is establishing itself as a credible candidacy.
Madrid thought it had secured the 2030 World Cup final. But facing the Santiago Bernabéu, Morocco is now putting forward the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca , a 115,000-capacity venue designed to host the competition’s most important match.
Spain and Algeria want to close four years of diplomatic crisis. But the rapprochement initiated in Algiers does not call into question Spain’s shift on the Sahara, which was at the origin of the rift between the two countries.
Morocco’s entry into the 2030 World Cup bid would have been worked on as early as 2018, well before the official announcement in 2023. Messages between Luis Rubiales, Karima Benyaich and Pedro Sánchez are reigniting tensions in Spain.
The passage of goods to Ceuta and Melilla has reportedly been interrupted again since mid-June. In Spain, this decision is presented as a new pressure tactic by Morocco against the two enclaves.
Morocco is implementing a special procedure to help undocumented Moroccans in Spain benefit from the regularization operation. Consulates must notably facilitate access to criminal records .
Spain spends far more than Morocco on defense. But relative to the size of its economy, Morocco’s military effort appears significantly higher, according to a Spanish analysis based notably on SIPRI data.
Spanish experts are relaunching the debate on Western Sahara, not only from a political angle, but also an economic one. They believe the territory could become a "little Kuwait" due to its natural resources.