Algeria suspends Spain cooperation treaty over Western Sahara dispute
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Following tension over Madrid's shift closer to Morocco's position on the dispute in Western Sahara, Algeria suspends its 20-year-old treaty of friendship, good neighborliness, and cooperation with Spain.
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El Mouradia Palace, Algeria's presidential palace
Algeria has announced today, Wednesday, the immediate suspension of the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness, and cooperation with Spain, over the latter's stance over disputed Western Sahara.
"Algeria has decided to immediately suspend the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness, and co-operation," the Algerian presidency said in a statement.
Algeria and Spain signed the deal in 2002 to boost dialogue and cooperation on economic, political, financial, education, and defense issues, but according to a Spanish diplomatic source, the government of Pedro Sanchez "regrets" the decision.
Algeria's decision came as a reaction to Spain's publicly recognizing Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory, in March, helping end a year-long dispute between the two kingdoms.
On Wednesday, Algeria said that Spain's move was "in violation of its legal, moral and political obligations" towards the territory, a former Spanish colony, which reflects the complex challenge Madrid faces in making ties balanced with the two states that are considered bitter adversaries.
Algeria added that Madrid had thereby "given its full support to an illegal and illegitimate formula... advocated by the occupying power".
It is worth mentioning that Algeria, which supports the Polisario seeking independence in Western Sahara, had broken off diplomatic ties with Rabat over "hostile acts" last August.
