the book that explains Sánchez’s turn with Morocco

The relationship between Spain and Morocco has been marked in recent years by a succession of diplomatic crises, border blackmail, closed-door agreements and many tensions.

The avalanche of thousands of migrants in Ceuta in 2021, the tragedy of the Melilla fence in 2022, espionage with the software Pegasus or Pedro Sánchez’s turn on Western Sahara are some of the most notable episodes.

The ups and downs and friction between both countries are the tone that smoothes the thorny diplomatic relationship between Madrid and Rabat. In this context, the journalist Sonia Moreno publica The awkward neighbor (The Sphere of Books), an essay that sheds light on the last two decades of Spanish-Moroccan relations.

Moreno has signed many of the investigations that he now develops in his book in EL ESPAÑOL. He spent 15 years in Rabat as a correspondent.

As he explains, the title of the book could also have been “The Annoying Neighbor”, because “Morocco annoys and gets upset about everything: we saw it with Brahim Ghali or with Aznar.”

Sonia Moreno maintains that Spain lives “subjected” to the interests of Rabat and that ““Morocco has the upper hand and, in fact, almost always gets its way in the end.”

The Alawite kingdom takes advantage of having become an essential actor for Europe by assuming the role of guardian and immigration retaining wallas well as a privileged partner in security.

Morocco’s strategic position has allowed Rabat to often look over its shoulder at Spain, making the Government subordinate our interests to its own. Added to this is the support of the United States and Israel.

“They know where the lone wolves are and many anti-terrorist operations are signed jointly. But in Morocco there is no respect for human rights. There the Police enter your house without a court order,” explains the journalist.

In his opinion, both the United States and the European Union pushed Spain to improve its relationship with Rabat and accept what he defines as “the lesser evil”: handing over the Sahara to them.

A relationship with “fear”

For the correspondent, the word that defines Spain’s attitude towards Morocco is “fear.”

“All the diplomats you talk to tell you the same thing, they all think the same: The great fear here is to upset Rabat. When they find out about a simple meeting with Sahrawis, they call to protest. And we ended up apologizing,” he says.

This interference has become normalized to the point that from Morocco “they call Madrid to complain about private meetings within ministries.”

The Ceuta crisis of 2021 was, according to Moreno, the clearest example of how Morocco imposes that soft war against Spain, which is also now known as hybrid war.

“It was a second Green March. They entered 12,000 people in two days. For many, the gendarmes opened the gates of the fence directly. There were kids who didn’t even know they were crossing the border,” he explains.

That episode was Morocco’s reaction to the reception in Spain of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front. A year later, Sánchez would end up sealing peace with Mohamed VI giving him Western Sahara.

“Spain always ends up giving in,” he says. “Our relationship with Morocco is a mountain range of ups and downs. When Rabat gets along with France, we usually lose. Now they are recovering that relationship. Morocco always needs a strong partner in Europe, and knows how to play with that.”

One of the most sensitive chapters that the book addresses is that of drug trafficking, inseparable from the relationship with that country, the largest producer of hashish in the world.

Morocco acts as a refuge for drug traffickers who have their businesses in Spain, while imprisoning journalists and activists: “We defend a country that puts a person in jail for wearing a certain shirt and, at the same time, protects criminals like the Messi of hashishor the murderers of Barbate”.

‘Pegasus’ program

The chapter dedicated to Pegasus is, for its author, one of the key pieces of the book.

“It is one of the two great unsolved mysteries along with Pedro Sánchez’s turn with respect to the Sahara. The Government knew that he had been spied on and hid it for a year. They removed it when it became politically interesting to them,” he says.

According to the cybersecurity experts consulted by the journalist, there is enough evidence to conclude that Moncloa hid the incident.

“At these levels, phones have very proven security protocols: an application constantly scans them and detects any infection quickly,” he points out.

Sonia Moreno does not give credibility to the official version. “The National Cryptological Center reviewed the president’s phone in a single weekend; it was removed on a Friday, after verifying that that of the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, had been hackedand on the same Sunday he confirmed the infection and its scope,” he explains.

However, he adds, “a mobile phone infection cannot be assessed in 24 or 36 hours, it takes weeks.”

The book describes Morocco as a country with two speeds: “A modern Morocco in the cities and another rural, deeply poor, unknown to the majority of Spaniards.”

He explains that the country has changed a lot in the last 20 years, but there is still 40% youth unemployment. That is why many young people fall into the hands of migratory networks in search of a one-way trip to Europe, in search of a better future.

“Many young people jump into the sea because they don’t have opportunities. In Morocco, without a car, house or job, you can’t get married or start a family. Immigration is their only way out,” he says.

The journalist also brings to light the persistence of illiteracy, especially among rural women. It is one of the great obstacles of the country, along with the lack of separation between religion and State, as well as the presence of elements of radical Islam in the oligarchy that runs the country.

“The reforms are of no use if they are carried out by a government with Islamists who condemn homosexuality or abortion,” he warns.

Moreno claims to have paid a personal price for his work. Five years ago she had to leave: “They withdrew my accreditation in 2020. In 2021 I returned as a special envoy and they monitored me. They accused me of investigating prostitution and drug trafficking. I have been a victim of espionage and threats. I can no longer walk freely there.”

Advised by her lawyers, this year she has avoided traveling to Morocco after being accused without evidence on social networks of instigating the protests that are spreading throughout the country.