🔗 Share this article

Madrid is adopting a noticeably unique course from numerous developed states when it comes to immigration strategies and relations toward the continent of Africa.

Although countries like the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany are reducing their international support allocations, the Spanish government continues dedicated to enhancing its participation, albeit from a modest foundation.

Current Programs

This week, the Madrid has been accommodating an African Union-backed "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". AfroMadrid2025 will examine reparative equity and the creation of a fresh assistance program.

This constitutes the most recent sign of how Madrid's leadership is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the continent that lies just a short distance to the south, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Governmental Approach

During summer International Relations Head José Manuel Albares established a recent guidance panel of distinguished academic, foreign service and arts representatives, more than half of them African, to oversee the delivery of the thorough Madrid-Africa plan that his government published at the close of the prior year.

New embassies south of the Sahara, and collaborations in commerce and learning are scheduled.

Immigration Control

The distinction between Madrid's strategy and that of other Western nations is not just in expenditure but in tone and outlook – and nowhere more so than in handling migration.

Comparable with other European locations, Administration Head the Spanish premier is exploring approaches to manage the influx of irregular arrivals.

"For us, the migratory phenomenon is not only a question of moral principles, mutual support and honor, but also one of logic," the government leader said.

Exceeding 45,000 people undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the island territory of the Atlantic islands recently. Approximations of those who lost their lives while making the attempt vary from 1,400 to a staggering 10,460.

Practical Solutions

Madrid's government must house new arrivals, process their claims and handle their incorporation into wider society, whether short-term or more enduring.

Nevertheless, in language noticeably distinct from the hostile messaging that comes from numerous EU governments, the Spanish administration publicly recognizes the difficult financial circumstances on the region in the West African region that force persons to endanger themselves in the effort to reach Europe.

Furthermore, it attempts to transcend simply saying "no" to new arrivals. Instead, it is creating innovative options, with a pledge to encourage movements of people that are safe, organized and regular and "jointly profitable".

Commercial Cooperation

While traveling to the Mauritanian Republic the previous year, Sanchez highlighted the participation that immigrants make to the Spanish economy.

Madrid's administration supports skill development initiatives for unemployed youth in states like the Senegalese Republic, particularly for irregular migrants who have been sent back, to support them in establishing sustainable income sources in their homeland.

And it has expanded a "cyclical relocation" scheme that provides persons from the region temporary permits to enter Spanish territory for restricted durations of periodic labor, mainly in agriculture, and then return.

Strategic Importance

The core principle guiding Spain's engagement is that the Iberian nation, as the EU member state closest to the mainland, has an vital national concern in the continent's advancement toward equitable and enduring progress, and stability and safety.

The core justification might seem apparent.

Yet of course previous eras had guided the Spanish nation down a quite different path.

Other than a several North African presences and a minor equatorial territory – today's independent the Central African nation – its imperial growth in the historical period had mainly been directed toward the Americas.

Forward Vision

The heritage aspect includes not only advancement of Castilian, with an enhanced representation of the Spanish cultural organization, but also programmes to assist the movement of academic teachers and scholars.

Defense collaboration, action on climate change, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in the current climate.

Nonetheless, the plan also lays very public stress it allocates for backing democratic principles, the African Union and, in specific, the West African regional organization Ecowas.

This constitutes favorable governmental endorsement for the organization, which is presently facing significant challenges after seeing its 50th anniversary year spoiled by the departure of the Sahelian states – Burkina Faso, the West African state and the Sahel territory – whose ruling military juntas have chosen not to follow with its standard for political freedom and proper administration.

Simultaneously, in a message aimed similarly at Madrid's domestic audience as its African collaborators, the international relations office declared "helping persons of African origin and the fight against racism and anti-foreigner sentiment are also crucial objectives".

Impressive rhetoric of course are only a first step. But in the current negative global atmosphere such terminology really does appear distinctive.