Sánchez shields Morocco as EU prioritizes strategic ties over border strife

Sánchez insists that intelligence agencies found no proof of Moroccan state participation in the crossing of nearly 75,000 migrants. Instead, he points to external influence, specifically suggesting that Russia and Israel are peddling disinformation to sow discord. While Italy and the Netherlands have voiced concerns regarding the integrity of EU borders, Brussels remains conspicuously silent. The geopolitical calculus is clear: Morocco is deemed too vital to alienate, especially as the nation strengthens its economic and political footprint elsewhere.

Simultaneously, Morocco is deepening its ties with the United States. Last week, the Moroccan state-linked fertilizer giant OCP partnered with CHS Inc. to invest $450 million in a Louisiana production facility. Supported by the Trump administration, the project aims to slash U.S. fertilizer imports by half. This commercial pivot accompanies a shift in European policy. Despite recent European Court of Justice rulings limiting trade agreements regarding Western Sahara, the German government and other EU member states are signaling a readiness to bypass these legal hurdles to protect the broader EU-Morocco trade relationship, including upcoming fisheries negotiations.