Diplomatic Manoeuvres in the Dark: How Spain changed its Position on the Western

Abstract

This contribution addresses the context and the previous background which leads to the Spanish change of stance on Western Sahara. Starting from the original position defined in 1976, this contribution reveals how, slowly, but surely, Spain has tried to modify its supposedly neutral approach to the conflict since the presidency of J.L. Rodríguez Zapatero. This dynamic has been
accelerated from 2021 with the Trump Proclamation on recognition of Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara and the aggravation of the Spanish-Moroccan diplomatic crisis, starting in April 2021 leading to the new position adopted in March 2022. However, the moving international context related to the issue and the US diplomacy shadow was by no means irrelevant to promote such a result, inducing Spanish authorities to negotiate behind the scenes its change of stance with his Moroccan counterpart, even though the events of mid March 2022 were probably unexpected.