Morocco has agreed to strengthen its partnership with Israel and the United States by opening embassies and restoring direct flights between Rabat and Tel Aviv. Reached in New York with US mediation, the agreement signals a shift in Morocco’s foreign policy as its relationship with Spain grows more strained.
The deal was finalized at a meeting hosted by the US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz. Morocco and Israel’s foreign ministers agreed to expand diplomatic and commercial ties, alongside security cooperation. The timing is impressive: Morocco and Spain remain at odds after a mass entry of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave that Morocco claims. On 16 September 2026, the foreign ministers agreed to speed up the exchange of ambassadors and open full embassies, information from official statements reported by international media.
The agreement also includes restoring direct flights between Morocco and Israel by the end of 2026, with airlines from both countries participating.
The US has widened the rift by openly blaming Spain for allowing large-scale illegal migration into Europe and holding Madrid’s policies responsible for the Ceuta crisis. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez first called the incident an attack on Spanish territorial integrity, then described it as a migration crisis. In response, the Trump administration’s spokesperson criticized Spain’s “globalist far-left policies.”
Rather than backing its traditional NATO ally, the US has prioritized its relationship with Morocco, especially through the Abraham Accords. Promoted by Donald Trump, the agreements aim to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states. Morocco joined after the US recognized its sovereignty over Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony and a long-running source of regional tension. US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020 was a basic part of the normalization deal between Morocco and Israel, information from major news agencies.
Spain eventually supported the US position on Western Sahara, backing Morocco’s autonomy proposal without public explanation from Sánchez. This formed part of a broader diplomatic strategy: in exchange for US recognition of its territorial claims, Morocco agreed to formalize ties with Israel. The move made Morocco part of a process that had already included the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Sudan; before that, only Egypt and Jordan had formalized ties with Israel among Arab countries.
Between 10 August and 14 September 2026, Spanish authorities reported that 5,321 migrants voluntarily returned from Ceuta to Morocco, while nearly 1,000 remained in the process of repatriation. Morocco has publicly denied organizing the mass crossing and accused Spain of politicizing the issue.
Spanish government
The recent meeting in New York has advanced this three-way cooperation. In a joint statement, the three governments said they are committed to strengthening international collaboration. Morocco’s and Israel’s foreign ministers thanked Trump for his role in advancing peace efforts in the region.
Morocco and Israel are preparing to upgrade their diplomatic missions to full embassies and exchange ambassadors. Both countries have also agreed to restore direct commercial flights before the end of the year, with airlines from both sides involved. These steps are expected to encourage investment and technology exchange, alongside security cooperation, an area where Israel has impressive experience. Official communications from the Moroccan and Israeli foreign ministries say further agreements on investment protection and double taxation are also in the works.
This diplomatic shift comes as Spain’s relationship with Israel has cooled, partly because of Sánchez’s criticism of the Netanyahu government’s actions in Gaza. Morocco’s normalization with Israel has faced domestic opposition, especially during the Gaza conflict, but the government in Rabat is pressing ahead and relying on US support to strengthen its regional position.
The Western Sahara issue remains central. US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory has changed the diplomatic field, leaving Spain in a difficult position. As Morocco builds closer ties with Washington and Tel Aviv, Madrid finds itself more isolated in a region where alliances are shifting quickly. Morocco is counting on its new partners to support its territorial ambitions and its role in North Africa, while Spain must adjust to a diplomatic environment where old alliances are no longer guaranteed.
