Morocco is set to begin naval exercises on the coast of Western Sahara this Friday, lasting for three months, causing concern for the government of the Canary Islands. The Royal Navy exercises will take place about 2.7 nautical miles (5 kilometers) off the coast near El Aaiún and Dajla (formerly Villa Cisneros), according to a circular issued by Moroccan authorities on March 19. This security warning is directed at sailors and fishermen to not navigate in the designated military zones, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Polisario Front, an organization advocating for the independence of the territory controlled by Morocco since 1975.
Morocco has not commented on the exercises, but Moroccan media outlets like bladi.net have described them as a measure to “reaffirm Morocco’s sovereignty over the waters of the Sahara” following a setback with the EU court regarding the fishing agreement with Brussels. The naval activity is expected to continue until the end of June, when the EU court is set to deliver its final ruling. Sources from the Polisario Front have reported an “unusual deployment of security forces” in coastal areas in recent days. The announcement of the exercises by Morocco has raised alarms in the Canary Islands, particularly in the southern part of Fuerteventura, which is the closest area to the naval exercises.
The President of the Canary Islands government has expressed concern to the Minister of Foreign Affairs about Morocco’s unilateral decision to conduct naval exercises. Contacts are planned to arrange a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the Canary Islands to discuss not only the exercises but also the relations between Morocco and Spain regarding the Canary Islands. The regional government is closely monitoring any moves by the Moroccan government, especially since the reactivation of irregular migration routes in 2019, with Morocco and Western Sahara being key areas.
Morocco’s approval of the delimitation of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf near the Canary Islands in April 2020 raised concerns, as it encroached on Spain’s territorial waters. The former president of the Canary Islands emphasized Spain and the Canaries’ commitment to defending their waters if Morocco encroaches on them. The recent discovery of natural gas reserves in Moroccan waters near the archipelago has also raised concerns about safety during drilling operations.
The announcement of the naval exercises off the Sahrawi coast came just before the EU Advocate General recommended the annulment of the fishing agreement between the EU and Morocco due to not respecting the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people. This recommendation is a preliminary step before the final verdict from the EU court, and it follows a ruling in favor of the Polisario Front in 2021. The fishing agreement between the EU and Morocco expired in 2023, with Spanish fishing vessels leaving Moroccan waters pending the outcome of the legal dispute.
