Spain Finds No Moroccan Espionage, Report Reveals \ Newslooks \ Editorials .
In an environment where geopolitical tensions often manifest in accusations of espionage, the recent report by Spain’s Counter-Espionage Agency serves as a significant narrative departure, meticulously dismissing the previously rampant claims against Morocco. This 2023 comprehensive analysis, conducted with an adherence to objectivity and devoid of political bias, presents a clear exoneration of Morocco, countering the narrative pushed by some Spanish political entities and media that accused Rabat of deploying the Pegasus spyware against Spanish officials. The assertion, unequivocal in its clarity, states, “Not detecting any espionage attempts by the Kingdom of Morocco against Spain,” offering a stark contrast to the speculative allegations that had been circulating.
The agency’s report delves into the landscape of espionage within Spain, attributing most of such activities to operatives and devices linked to Russia and China. This reflects a broader global context where Russia’s engagement in the war on Ukraine drives its espionage to gather intelligence on Western countries, and China’s ambitions to glean insights into European Union and NATO strategies underscore the international espionage arena’s complexity.
Of note is the report’s chapter titled ‘Espionage and Foreign Interference,’ spanning pages 95 to 100, which conspicuously omits any mention of Morocco. This absence indicates a comprehensive evaluation by the agency, finding no evidence of Moroccan espionage or interference in Spanish affairs—a revelation that upended expectations, especially given the heightened scrutiny Morocco faced in the espionage discourse over the past two years.
This revelation was met with surprise by some Spanish media outlets, particularly in light of the backdrop where accusations against Morocco, often ranking it even before Russia, were leveraged by political parties to fuel narratives antagonistic to Rabat. Among these were claims alleging Morocco’s use of the Israeli-developed Pegasus spyware to infiltrate the phones of significant Spanish officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Defense Minister Margarita Robles. However, these claims, despite being echoed by certain factions and media, lacked the backing of tangible evidence.
The Spanish government’s steadfast refusal to implicate Morocco over the last two years, citing a lack of evidence of espionage through Pegasus, stands in stark contrast to the narratives that had been constructed.
The recent judicial findings underscore the political dimensions of the campaign against Morocco, implicating not just the adversarial stance of countries like Algeria but also suggesting the involvement of France. This involvement seems to aim at pressuring Morocco, thereby attempting to corner it with unfounded allegations for ulterior motives.
This situation sheds light on a broader pattern of geopolitically motivated propaganda campaigns, where certain media outlets, swayed by these orchestrated narratives, failed to pursue independent verification, or await the conclusions of official investigations before disseminating claims.
The systematic propaganda against Morocco, which now appears to have been politically motivated, highlights the critical need for diligent, evidence-based journalism and the importance of awaiting judicial or investigative outcomes before drawing conclusions.
Such episodes underscore the delicate interplay between national security concerns, international relations, and media responsibility, reminding us of the paramount importance of substantiating espionage accusations with solid evidence before they are publicly leveled.
The narrative surrounding the Pegasus spyware and Morocco’s alleged involvement thus serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of geopolitically charged accusations that lack a firm evidentiary foundation.
Spain Finds No Moroccan Espionage, Report Reveals
