Spanish media expresses dismay over Trump's prioritization of Morocco and other European nations over Spain

Spanish news outlets have voiced concerns over what they perceive as neglect by the new U.S. administration, fearing that Spain is being sidelined while Washington focuses on strengthening ties with other European and Mediterranean nations, including Morocco, according to Morocco World News.

El Mundo highlighted that during Trump’s first week in office, his administration failed to engage with Spanish officials. In contrast, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly held discussions with the foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, France, and Morocco.

A recent conversation between Rubio and Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, which took place on Monday, reportedly focused on regional and global peace and security cooperation.

Trump's relationship with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been strained since his first term, particularly after a confrontation at the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, where Trump criticized Spain’s military spending.

Spanish media outlets are reportedly concerned about the military implications of deepening U.S.-Morocco ties. The Spanish edition of the Huffington Post describes Morocco’s growing military presence, bolstered by U.S. support, as a “source of concern for Spain.”

Across Spanish media, there is a growing sense of a significant geopolitical shift, as Spain’s historical diplomatic prominence appears to be waning in favor of Morocco’s rising importance in U.S. strategic priorities for the Mediterranean and North Africa.