This week, the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Algeria has experienced its most dramatic
This week, the diplomatic crisis between Spain and Algeria has experienced its most dramatic development. An anthological energy crisis is looming, not only for the Iberian Peninsula but, by domino effect, for all Western Europe. This would not be the consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but the result of the sudden escalation of relations between two states, Algeria, and Morocco, which have hated each other for decades and whose defense doctrine is fundamentally based on protecting each other. Secondly, on the claims of legitimacy regarding Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco since 1975.However, with a sudden acceleration since the recognition of Moroccan legitimacy over Western Sahara by Donald Trump, as one of his last acts in foreign policy. Measure ratified by Joe Biden. The issue of Moroccan wiretapping of members of the Algerian government, during the “Hirak” (2019 revolt) did not help at all. These works are produced using the Israeli Pegasus technique. They are widely publicized by the international press. Algeria reacts by cutting the Euromed gas pipeline, part of which passes through Moroccan territory. For Morocco, this is a deficit of about 300 million euros. The points of comparison between the Russian-Ukrainian conflict are also very numerous. Both as regards the issue of the role of the gas pipeline. The rupture of diplomatic relations between the two Maghreb states was consummated, unilaterally, by Algeria on August 24, 2021. However, Spain, until March 2022, tries to maintain its traditional neutrality, despite the pressure exerted on the former colonial power by Morocco and the United States. In March 2022, something comes to break that neutrality that turns the situation upside down. On March 18, 2022, Pedro Sánchez endorsed Mohamed VI’s annexationist policy on Western Sahara, using three superlatives: “the most serious, realistic and credible formula”. This investment is at the center of all speculation. It is a matter of understanding what happened, to justify such a measure on its own, particularly about the consequences for the Spanish economy. We had to wait a little less than three months to find out what form Algiers’ anger would take. Last Wednesday, Algeria decided to suspend the bilateral friendship treaty with Spain, concluded in October 2002, to withdraw its ambassador, to freeze the banking operations of its former partner. But the most exciting thing concerns the gas supply embargo. This crisis is considered by the entire Spanish political spectrum as an unprecedented “diplomatic catastrophe”, to use the expression of the former PM José María Aznar (Popular Party, centre-right). Expressions of astonishment fill the press: “great idiocy”, “nonsense”, etc. The question that has plagued people ever since is: what has gotten into Pedro Sánchez, putting Spain in such dire straits, closing the door on its main energy partner, to join the Moroccan objectives, with respect to whom? And whose excellent relations limited to the strictly personal framework of the two reigning families, the Bourbons and the Alawites? A political explanation could have been that of the personal ambition of Pedro Sánchez who knows that his political future in Spain is more than compromised and for whom the ultra-Atlantic push, therefore Moroccan, would be a guarantee of “relocating”, probably, the presidency of European Council. This would be consistent with his choice to fire his former FMArancha González Laya and choose José Manuel Albares, a clearly more AtlanticistFM. González takes the hat for the issue of temporary asylum granted to BrahimGhali, president of the self-proclaimed, albeit supported by Algeria, “Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic” (RASD). Ghali had come to Spain for treatment in 2021. But another explanation emerges. The one with the wiretapping, the same as for Algeria. Pedro Sánchez said at the height of the Spanish-Moroccan crisis that his phone and that of some of his ministers had been hacked by the Pegasus system. However, among the telephone conversations there would be very compromising information about the corruption and nepotism of his government. Some of them involving his wife. This listening could have influenced Sánchez towards a 180 degree turn in favor of Morocco. The newspapers La Razón and El Mundo are among the titles that evoke the direct responsibility of Moroccan services in carrying out these illegal wiretaps. The PP has requested the creation of an ad hoc commission on the Pegasus eavesdropping and its possible impact on Pedro Sánchez’s decision. Until 2021, Algeria was the main supplier of gas to Spain. At the end of 2021, after the closure of its gas pipeline that passes through Morocco, Algeria had taken the initiative to guarantee Spain the increase in its exports through the Medgaz gas pipeline, reaching the coasts of the province of Almería directly. In addition, Algiers undertook to supply by ship, at no additional cost, the residual material that could not pass through the gas pipeline. Hence the fact that Algeria is objectively dumbfounded. In 2021, Spain was 42.7% dependent on Algerian gas (source Enargas). From Pedro Sánchez’s retreat, the US has replaced Algeria in less than three months, passing to 43% of US gas (fraking) compared to 30% in Algeria. But US gas costs on average 40% more than Algerian gas. Faced with the threat of unilateral termination of the trade agreements between Algeria and Spain, the Government of Pedro Sánchez has tried to give a European twist to the crisis. With some success. The rupture with Spain would be interpreted, according to Ursula von der Leyen, as a breach of trust with the entire EU. On Friday, Albares met with the EU’s trade policy chief, Valdis Dombrovskis. For the Spanish side, a unilateral rupture should be denounced before an international arbitral tribunal. European support seems to have had some effect on the Algerian government, who’s representative to deal with this crisis, the former ambassador to Spain, architect of the 2005 Euro-Mediterranean agreement, Mohamed Haneche, misses no opportunity to make fun of the Spanish government. and making fun of EU authorities, including JosepBorell. However, Haneche said on Friday that there is no question of suspending deliveries, which means a relative respite.
https://www.eldiarioalerta.com/articulo/economia/chantaje-sordido-sanchez-espana/20220621002137468571.html
(22.06 El Diario Alerta)
Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today
Soyez le premier à commenter