The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that it will keep the Government of the Canary Islands informed of everything related to the military maneuvers that Morocco will begin tomorrow just 125 kilometers from the coast of the archipelago, according to sources from the department headed by José Manuel Albares.
Asked if Albares had responded to the request for explanations made by the Canarian authorities, the aforementioned sources indicated that the Ministry is at the disposal of all regional governments and indicated that the president of the Community, Fernando Clavijo, has the minister’s personal cell phone. and that they speak “on multiple occasions.”
Specifically, they assured that the last time they had direct contact was last Sunday, and added that, in addition, their cabinet directors also have regular contacts, “the last time, yesterday,” they said.
The sources consulted stated that “communication with the government of the Canary Islands at different levels is and will be permanent, also regarding this matter.”
There was, however, no answer to the specific question of whether the Canary Islands Government was directly informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Defense of the maneuvers that the Royal Moroccan Navy will carry out starting tomorrow, in waters south of Morocco and Western Sahara.
Nor was there any comment on whether there is concern among the Spanish authorities about the carrying out of naval maneuvers that will last, in different phases, until June 28.
The maneuvers take place shortly after the Attorney General of the European Union recommended annulling the fishing agreements with Morocco, considering that it violates the principle of self-determination of Western Sahara by not treating it as a “separate and distinct” territory from the kingdom of Mohamed SAW.