They are waters in conflict with Spain

Morocco has granted the Israeli company Newmed Energy a hydrocarbon exploitation license on an extension of 34,000 square kilometers in the Atlantic, off the coast of the Western Sahara.

Why is a problem. Because the explorations conflict with the maritime sovereignty of the region. Claimed by Morocco, they are legally territorial waters of Spain, from the Spanish point of view.

The Moroccan decision This complex relationship tensions even moreplay disputes about the Western Sahara and reinforces the strategic ties between Morocco and Israel, which have been narrowing in recent years, despite the geopolitical concerns derived from the Gaza War.

The details. Israeli company Newmed Energy and Moroccan Adarco Energy have obtained an official rabat license To explore and exploit 17 maritime blocks in front of the Saharawi coasts, between the cities of Boujdour and Dajla.

Newmed and Adarco possess, each, 37.5% of the permits, while the remaining 25% is from the Moroccan state company onhym. It is not the first Moroccan concession to Israeli companies. In 2021, Rabat granted licenses on another 109,900 km² to Ratio Petroleum and Navitas Petroleum.

The conflict. The area granted is only 200 km from the Canary Islands, within an exclusive economic zone (ZEE) that Morocco established unilaterally in 2020, without international recognition.

Both the Canary Islands and the Government of Spain have repeatedly stated that this delimitation lacks legal validity and overlaps with the Spanish Zee internationally recognized since 1981.

The Israel factor. The concession is to reflect the approach between Morocco and Israel after Abraham’s agreements of 2020. and despite Gaza’s War. Through companies such as Newmed Energy, Israel seeks to position themselves as a key energy actor in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

For Morocco, the alliance offers strategic, technological and diplomatic advantages, especially Before the Polisario Front (seeking the independence of the western Sahara) and Algeria. Now Spain will have to decide how it responds to these maritime and energy audacies.

Images | Newmed Energy

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