فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a diplomatic development reflecting the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Kingdoms of Morocco and Spain, Spain has expressed its appreciation for Resolution 2797 issued by the United Nations Security Council on October 31, 2025, which considers genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as “the most applicable solution” to settle the Western Sahara issue. This announcement came at the conclusion of the thirteenth session of the high-level meeting between the two countries, held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in Madrid, where Spain adopted an official statement renewing confirmation of its constructive position announced in the joint declaration dated April 7, 2022, between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
Diplomatic Context of Resolution 2797
The Security Council adopted Resolution 2797 with a majority of 11 votes in favor, with three countries abstaining (China, Russia, and Pakistan), and Algeria not participating in the vote. The resolution renews the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for an additional year until October 31, 2026, and urges parties to conduct negotiations “without preconditions,” considering the 2007 Moroccan autonomy initiative as a “basis” for the final political settlement. The resolution refers to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s September 2025 report, which highlighted the absence of progress toward a political solution and called for accelerating the settlement in the interest of the people of the Sahara.
This resolution represents a shift in international discourse, moving from the traditional focus on self-determination through referendum to a realistic framework supporting autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, while maintaining the principle of self-determination as a general framework. The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, expressed in his statements dated November 5, 2025, his anticipation of receiving an updated Moroccan autonomy plan, emphasizing that the resolution provides “renewed international energy and determination” to end the five-decade-long conflict.
Spain’s Position and Its Implications for Bilateral Partnership
Spain expressed its “satisfaction” with this UN development, confirming its full support for the Secretary-General’s and his envoy’s efforts in leading negotiations based on the Moroccan initiative. This position comes within the framework of the thirteenth session of the high-level meeting, which witnessed discussion of 14 bilateral agreements in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, water management, mobility, and security, in addition to airspace management over Morocco’s southern provinces. This effective support consolidates the UN roadmap, which places the Moroccan initiative at the heart of the settlement process, thereby enhancing regional stability and opening prospects for economic cooperation, with trade exchange between the two countries reaching 22.6 billion euros in 2024.
International and Local Reactions
Morocco welcomed Resolution 2797 as a “new opening in the path of consolidating the Moroccanness of the Sahara,” as announced by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, emphasizing the updating of the initiative and its official submission to the United Nations. In contrast, the Polisario Front considered it “unbalanced,” accusing it of marginalizing the right to self-determination, while other countries such as the United States and France welcomed it as a step toward a fair political solution.
This development is considered an additional step toward enhancing balanced diplomacy in the Maghreb region, while maintaining commitment to international law. For more details on official texts or subsequent developments, it is advisable to refer to United Nations sources or the relevant ministries. If you have additional inquiries, I am ready to provide deeper analysis.
