From Joan Carles I 'easygoing' to Felip VI: what has changed between Spain and the monarchy of Morocco?

MadridIt was July 26, 1999, and Juan Carlos I could not hold back his tears: he was in a prominent place, according to the chronicles of that time, in the retinue that was bidding farewell to the King of Morocco, Hassan II. The Spanish monarch was thus saying goodbye to a person cherished beyond the diplomatic relationship that existed between Spain and Morocco at that time; he was saying goodbye to an "older brother." That is why he said to Mohammed VI: "Now I am your older brother." This bond, which helped to fine-tune the relationship between Madrid and Rabat on many occasions, has it been maintained with King Felipe VI? What has changed now? What effect might the current monarch's visit to Ceuta, announced by Pedro Sánchez, have? Figures who have experienced Spain-Morocco relations firsthand and experts in the field explain it to ARA.

"They are two very different monarchies, one parliamentary and democratic, and the other personalistic and authoritarian, but despite these differences, their relationship, not exempt from ups and downs, has contributed to moderating the shocks of a political relationship often more rational than passionate," explains Jorge Dezcallar, former Spanish ambassador to Morocco and the United States, as well as former director of the CNI. He highlights, in this sense, the relevance of the bond between Juan Carlos I, "very intuitive," and Hassan II, whom he defines as "very intelligent." The former ambassador asserts that the two of them saved the relationship in "complicated" moments, as they "respected each other a lot and had confidence in each other." "I heard Hassan II say to Juan Carlos I one day that 'one should not insult the future because we will share it.' Clairvoyant," details Dezcallar, in the first person.

The former Ser correspondent and author of the book Marruecos, el vecino incómodo (La Esfera de los Libros, 2025), Sonia Moreno, describes the relationship that Juan Carlos I and Hassan II had as follows: "They were like family," she exemplifies, and explains how, on many occasions, the royal household played a key diplomatic role for Spain's interests in Morocco. She gives as an example the entry of Spanish banks into the Alaouite country, which was not unblocked until the king intervened. That is to say, at that moment, in the words of UB Political Science professor Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera, the relations between the monarchies were very "fluid" due to the proximity between the two heads of state.

Sonia Moreno speaks of the emeritus king as the "campechano" to exemplify the attitude that, also in the relationship with Morocco, Juan Carlos I knew how to imprint. This bond continues with King Mohammed VI from the 2000s onwards, but the former correspondent in Rabat points out a difference: the current head of state of Morocco exercises a much more "economic" diplomacy compared to his father, who had prioritized personal relationships. "He has another way of doing things," notes Moreno.

In fact, it was during the reign of Mohammed VI that there was a clash over the visit of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia to Ceuta, in the year 2007, the only one the Spanish monarchy has made to this autonomous city over which Rabat claims sovereignty. On that occasion, there was a crisis between Madrid and the Alawite regime that took months to be resolved.What changes with the arrival of Felipe VI to the throne?

When the abdication of King Juan Carlos I took place in 2014 and the throne passed to Felipe VI, relations with the Moroccan monarchy were not damaged, but rather changed in nature. Dezcallar explains it this way: "The relationship is not the same between Felipe VI and Mohammed VI, who have very different characters and hobbies. In any case, and given the enormous weight of the Moroccan monarch in domestic and foreign policy, it is always positive to have direct access to him, without intermediaries, as our king has".

"They are cordial, but less affectionate," summarizes the former correspondent Moreno in turn, while Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera speaks of a "colder" relationship, but equally "correct." In fact, he considers that the Spanish monarchy, despite being parliamentary and having only representative functions in accordance with the Constitution—a key difference, he recalls, with respect to the Moroccan monarchy which has executive powers—, can play a role of "détente" with Morocco because it is not attributed any political color.

Sonia Moreno adds that the Moroccan monarchy has expressed support for the Spanish one in delicate moments. She cites, for example, when during Pedro Sánchez's first coalition government, with Unidas Podemos, all the information related to the corruption of the king emeritus came out, there were calls from Rabat to Zarzuela because they interpreted that all of it was an "attack" by the left, which wanted to bring down the monarchy.

For this reason, the former correspondent considers that now, if King Felipe VI's visit to Ceuta is to take place, it is necessary for the Spanish royal house to first agree on it with Mohammed VI. "He must reach an agreement. If he goes without warning, there may be problems," points out the journalist, who also does not hesitate to warn of another thing: the current royal house needs the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize its visits abroad and, for this reason, she is convinced that if it has not been done until now, it is because Pedro Sánchez's executive has prioritized at all times having good relations with Rabat.

For this reason, Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera believes that the Spanish president was not "right" when announcing the visit, since he did so by boasting about his visits to Ceuta in comparison to the king's non-trips. However, he concludes: "It is an obligatory trip. Spain cannot submit to blackmail from Morocco".

Dezcallar, as a final message, warns: "The visit of King Felipe VI to Ceuta will not please Morocco, just as we are not pleased by the statements of the ministers of Justice and Islamic Affairs [of Morocco regarding the sovereignty of Ceuta]. But it will send a signal of firmness that I believe is very necessary. And even more so if the police reports about a direct involvement of Moroccan authorities in the assault on our territorial integrity of last July 30th are confirmed". For the moment, neither the Royal Household nor the Spanish government have set a date.