Marruecos y Emiratos Árabes Unidos impulsan sus relaciones estratégicas y cooperación
The difficult context in North Africa between Morocco and Algeria is forcing the Alawi kingdom to seek new allies or, as in this case, to strengthen ties with those that already exist, making them even more important. Rabat sees the United Arab Emirates as one of the most important opportunities to make progress in many fields of cooperation, from energy to economic and strategic cooperation. And it does so through the visit of the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Ahmed Al-Jaber, to the capital of the Kingdom.
Al-Jaber travelled to Rabat to meet with President Aziz Akhannouch and several Moroccan ministers in a meeting in which the UAE ambassador to the Alawi kingdom, Al-Asri Saeed Ahmed Al-Dhaheri, also took part. During the meeting, the Emirati minister stressed the historic ties between the two countries, which, according to observers, are looking forward to deepening their relations and establishing new ties of cooperation in industry, economy, culture and tourism.
Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a meeting on the sidelines with the representative of the Emirati government. They discussed issues relating to the improvement of bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. The diplomatic deadlock that Morocco and Algeria have been experiencing for more than a year following the rupture of their relations was also mentioned. Now, following the appearance of Jordan's King Abdullah II as mediator, it is hoped that the situation between Algiers and Rabat can gradually improve, starting with the reopening of the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline, which directly affects Spain.
This new rapprochement between Morocco and the UAE shows Abu Dhabi's support for the Kingdom in such complex issues as Algeria. It should be recalled that the UAE has already shown its support in the dispute over Western Sahara, the main cause of confrontation between the country of Mohammed VI and Algeria, which defends the autonomy of the Sahrawi territory. And it is not only on this issue. With the opening of its consulate in the city of Laayoune - the first Arab country to do so - the Emirates demonstrated its strong commitment to Morocco as one of its main regional and international partners.
The Emirati minister's visit to Morocco also included meetings with his Alawi counterparts, Riyad Mazour, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development. The aim of the two countries is to promote cooperation in the field of energy, including renewable energies, industry and technology. This issue was also used as an opportunity to discuss the COP28, scheduled for the end of next year, which will take place in Dubai. Ensuring energy security and encouraging climate action to achieve sustainable economic development goals are among the goals to be addressed at this new conference.