Contact: Mourad Beni-ich, 571-214-0842

VIENNA, Va., July 16, 2014 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Kingdom of Morocco is a country of a vital and strategic geographic position, relatively stable politically, and it is working so hard to improve its economy and solve its social issues. All the layers of the society put the national interest above personal differences, and this has been proven for the last two years; while most Arab countries have experienced violent demonstrations, which led to changing regimes, the Moroccan monarch succeeded in absorbing the socio-economic pressure by implementing many changes to sustain the stability Moroccans have always enjoyed.

This quality of governing attracts many foreign entities to explore new horizons and flourish in the Moroccan economy, and Spain realized that it is not in its national interests to keep tension rising between the two countries and began changing its approach towards Morocco. The willingness to tighten the bilateral relations between the two countries was clear during last year's official visit to Morocco by King Juan Carlos, and this year's visit of His Majesty King Don Philippe.

On Monday July 14th, 2014, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, accompanied by his wife HRH Queen Letizia, began an official visit to Morocco. The greeting ceremony was at the level and comprised of a regiment of Royal Cavalry, which escorted the monarchs from Bab Al-Soufara until Al-Mishwar, where they headed to the VIP stand for the national anthems of the two countries, followed by a 21-gun cannon salute in honor of the Spanish monarch. HM King Mohammed VI also decorated HM King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain with Wissam Al Mohammadi (Exceptional Class).

There are many challenges facing both Morocco and Spain, which they need to collaborate on and must put their best efforts forward to overcome. Three major challenges face the two nations: Immigration, terrorism and narcotics.

Being separated only by the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco is considered the main feeder of immigrant to Europe. Being mecca for sub-Saharan migrants, Morocco implemented new laws to document them in a move to integrate them in the economy and ease the pressure for illegal immigration towards Europe. In addition, Morocco has been tightening its Northern maritime borders by constantly monitoring those seeking to stow away towards Spain.

Narcotics trafficking is one of the largest issues that needs more focus, especially in regard to the many wild beaches in Northern Morocco, which can be used as a port to ship drugs towards Europe. Spain is widely affected by this problem and both Moroccan and Spanish authorities have been coordinating their efforts for decades to the transport of illegal drugs towards Europe.

Terrorism, which is the 21st Century's major phenomenon, is a problem that requires serious and immediate strategies to tackle it and extract it as it aims to destabilize both societies. Both being victims of terror attacks, Morocco and Spain are working alongside each other to dismantle as many terror groups as possible. Morocco, with its proven record in fighting terrorism, can be crucial to Spain in its war on domestic growing radicalism. Many radicals residing in Spain are of Moroccan origin, therefore Spain is aiming to develop a strong partnership with Morocco by sharing the data of those suspects in question, and Madrid can feed Morocco with vital intelligence regarding the movement of sleeping cells using its territories to plan and conduct terror attacks. This alliance can also be beneficial to both Europe and Africa as the two countries are the first line of access to both continents. 

Solving these three major problems would require many solutions to solve them. One of those solutions is creating job opportunities in both countries. Now that Morocco has established itself as a steady economy, which becomes attracting to foreign businesses considering investing in the country. Those investments will surely create job opportunities to substitute drug dealing and help to stop illegal immigration to Spain for those looking for better life.

All in all, many experts foresee a long-term partnership between Morocco and Spain at all levels, especially now that both Monarchs have strong ties as lifelong friends, and they can invest their personal friendship to prosper their nations and strengthening their historical bond, which goes back Centuries.