Morocco and Spain reiterated their will to open a new chapter in the bilateral relations, said a statement issued by the Moroccan Royal Cabinet…reports Asian Lite News
Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, during their talks held in Rabat, pledged to start a new stage in the bilateral ties “based on mutual respect, reciprocal trust, permanent consultation, frank and loyal cooperation,” the statement said.
They also agreed to take concrete actions in the framework of a roadmap covering all areas of their partnership, the statement added.
Bilateral relations between Morocco and Spain deteriorated in April last year, after Spain admitted the Polisario Front leader for medical treatment using Algerian documents.
In last month, Spain announced a major shift in its policy by endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan to settle the dispute over Western Sahara, paving the way for easing their strained ties.
Sanchez reaffirmed his country’s position on the Western Sahara issue, which considers “the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute,” the statement added.
Another report says the state-run company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide Morocco with an advanced air and missile defence system, after they signed a $600 million.
IAI will provide Morocco with the Barak MX system, in a deal that began to take shape during Defence Minister Benny Gantz’s visit to Morocco in November last year, according to Israel’s Channel 12 TV news and financial website Globes.
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Barak MX provides a single integrated solution for multiple simultaneous aerial threats from different sources and ranges in several mission types and battle conditions, Xinhua news agency quoted the reports as saying.
These threats include fighters, sea-skimming and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, drones, helicopters and gliding bombs, and the system offers three interception ranges of 35, 70 and 150 km.
Morocco and Israel signed a historic agreement for the establishment of full diplomatic relations in December 2020.
The deal comes amid Morocco’s growing tension with its neighbour Algeria and a possible threat of booby-trapped drones against the North African country, according to Channel 12.