The Maghreb, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, our neighbourhood to the south, is a priority region for Spain's external action. The effects of current global dynamics, as well as its own internal transformations, are generating opportunities and challenges in the region. In view of this, Spain's objectives in this geographical area are to strengthening bilateral relations, stability and progress in the region through enhanced regional cooperation, as well as the resolution of existing conflicts.
Maghreb
Comprising Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, this region of North Africa is strategic for Spain due to its geographical proximity, its historical links and the large volume of human, economic and cultural exchanges that take place with our country, as well as the significant presence of the Maghrebi population in Spain.
Spain: a neighbour
Our country has signed treaties of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation with all states in the region, with the exception of Libya. On this basis, political dialogue is conducted through the High Level Meetings, of which twelve have been held with Morocco, eight with Tunisia, seven with Algeria and the first with Mauritania will take place soon. Spain also intends to strengthen economic, parliamentary, scientific, climate and cultural diplomacy initiatives.
Spain: a partner
The volume of trade with the Maghreb amounts to some €33 billion per year. Since 2012, Spain has been Morocco's main trading partner, which in turn is the leading African and Arab destination for Spanish exports, with almost 20,000 Spanish companies operating in the territory. The economic relationship with Algeria is particularly important in the energy sector, as it supplies more than a quarter of the natural gas that Spain imports.
The migration challenge
Security in the region and the flow of migratory movements constitute a challenge shared by Spain, the European Union and the Maghreb countries. For more than a decade, Spain has been developing an comprehensive approach in migration issues in close cooperation with Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania, countries of origin or transit of irregular trafficking affecting Spain in the Western Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Spain advocates regular, orderly and safe migration.
![The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohammed Cheikh El Ghazouani, appear together in 2024]()
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohammed Cheikh El Ghazouani, appear together in 2024. (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo
)
Active cooperation
Spain is promoting closer ties between the European Union and the Maghreb countries and the strengthening and development of the European Neighbourhood Policy in this region. Spanish Cooperation is present in all the Maghreb countries with projects and Technical Cooperation Offices. Spanish Cooperation promotes sustainable development through technical and financial cooperation instruments and plays a leading role in providing emergency disaster relief.
Multilateralism
Cooperation with the Maghreb is also being strengthened through regional cooperation processes such as the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Western Mediterranean Dialogue Forum or '5+5 Dialogue', which have fostered political consultation and sectoral cooperation on both sides of the Mediterranean.
Middle East
Comprising Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, this is also an area of special importance for Spain, with which political, economic and cultural relations have been considerably strengthened in recent years.
The challenge of stability
The situation in the region is marked by latent conflicts such as those in Syria and Yemen, the fight against DAESH strongholds in Iraq and Syria, and competition for leadership. The Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 reignited the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and caused it to spread to Lebanon, and heightened regional tension.
Spain has been actively involved in its resolution since the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference and continues to try to contribute constructively, both within the European Union and bilaterally, by supporting the materialisation of the two-state solution. To this end, it has recognised the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024, launched initiatives such as the Madrid Meeting of 13 September 2024, and participated in all multilateral initiatives to this end, such as the Global Partnership for a Two-State Solution, launched in New York on 26 September 2024.
Spain supports Lebanon's stability and the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. Proof of this is the uninterrupted participation since 2006 in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is its largest deployment in a peacekeeping operation.
Strong economic relations
From an economic perspective, Spain has particularly close relations with countries in the Gulf. Spanish companies have executed emblematic projects, mainly in infrastructure - such as the high-speed train linking the cities of Medina, Jeddah and Mecca (Saudi Arabia) - but also in leisure and culture. Bilateral relations with the Gulf States have been elevated to the strategic level with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
Cultural heritage
This desire to bring Spain and the countries of the Middle East closer together is not without its equivalent cultural aspect. In this area, the active policy of our Embassies in the region, the initiative of the Cervantes Institute centres and the activities of the Casa Árabe, the Centro Sefarad-Israel and the Casa Mediterráneo facilitate mutual understanding, trust and rapprochement between societies.