Morocco and Spain face maritime and editorial tensions

Tensions persist regarding territorial and maritime claims involving Morocco, Spain, and the Canary Islands. One report criticizes the news network Al Jazeera for its editorial stance toward Morocco, alleging that the network has repeatedly published maps that omit Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces. The critique suggests these instances are not technical errors but a systematic pattern of hostility, noting that even Qatar, the network's owner, officially recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.

Separately, discussions continue regarding the Tropic seamount and the maritime interests of the Canary Islands. The dispute involves how Morocco uses Western Sahara to project claims into the Atlantic, potentially impacting the maritime spaces of the Canary Islands. While the Canary Islands' Statute of Autonomy recognizes the sea as an integral part of the archipelago, international legal responsibilities for maritime zones like the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf currently remain with the Spanish state under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.