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Spain is charting a noticeably unique path from numerous Western nations when it comes to migration policies and cooperation with the continent of Africa.

Although countries like the US, United Kingdom, France and Federal Republic of Germany are cutting back their foreign assistance funding, the Spanish government stays focused to increasing its engagement, even from a modest foundation.

Recent Developments

Currently, the capital city has been hosting an AU-supported "international gathering on individuals with African heritage". AfroMadrid2025 will discuss reparative equity and the establishment of a new development fund.

This represents the newest evidence of how Madrid's leadership is seeking to deepen and broaden its involvement with the region that sits merely a few kilometres to the southern direction, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Governmental Approach

This past summer External Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares established a new advisory council of distinguished academic, diplomatic and cultural figures, the majority of them of African origin, to monitor the execution of the comprehensive Madrid-Africa plan that his leadership unveiled at the end of last year.

New embassies in sub-Saharan regions, and collaborations in commerce and academic are arranged.

Immigration Control

The distinction between Spain's approach and that of other Western nations is not just in expenditure but in attitude and outlook – and particularly evident than in dealing with immigration.

Comparable with other European locations, Administration Head Pedro Sanchez is looking for ways to control the arrival of undocumented migrants.

"In our view, the immigration situation is not only a question of moral principles, solidarity and respect, but also one of logic," the administration head said.

Exceeding 45,000 people undertook the dangerous ocean journey from the Atlantic African shore to the island territory of the Atlantic islands the previous year. Calculations of those who died while trying the crossing vary from 1,400 to a overwhelming 10,460.

Workable Approaches

Spain's leadership needs to shelter new arrivals, evaluate their applications and handle their incorporation into larger population, whether temporary or more enduring.

Nevertheless, in language distinctly separate from the confrontational statements that originates from several Western administrations, the Sanchez government openly acknowledges the difficult financial circumstances on the territory in Western Africa that force persons to risk their lives in the endeavor to achieve the European continent.

Furthermore, it attempts to exceed simply denying access to new arrivals. Rather, it is designing original solutions, with a promise to encourage population flows that are secure, orderly and regular and "jointly profitable".

Financial Collaboration

During his visit to Mauritania the previous year, Madrid's representative stressed the participation that immigrants make to the Iberian economic system.

Madrid's administration supports skill development initiatives for youth without work in states like the West African country, notably for unauthorized persons who have been sent back, to assist them in creating viable new livelihoods in their native country.

And it has expanded a "cyclical relocation" initiative that offers persons from the region short-term visas to enter Spanish territory for defined timeframes of seasonal work, primarily in farming, and then go back.

Policy Significance

The fundamental premise underlying the Spanish approach is that the European country, as the European country closest to the continent, has an crucial domestic priority in the region's development toward comprehensive and lasting growth, and stability and safety.

That basic rationale might seem apparent.

Yet of course previous eras had guided Spain down a quite different path.

Besides a few Maghreb footholds and a compact tropical possession – presently autonomous the Gulf of Guinea country – its territorial acquisition in the historical period had mainly been directed across the Atlantic.

Prospective Direction

The heritage aspect includes not only promotion of the Spanish language, with an enhanced representation of the language promotion body, but also initiatives to support the movement of educational instructors and investigators.

Defense collaboration, initiatives concerning global warming, women's empowerment and an increased international engagement are predictable aspects in contemporary circumstances.

Nonetheless, the plan also puts notable focus it allocates for backing democratic principles, the continental organization and, in specific, the regional West African group Ecowas.

This will be positive official support for the latter, which is currently under severe pressure after witnessing its half-century celebration marred by the walk-out of the Sahelian states – the Sahel country, Mali and the Nigerien Republic – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its standard for political freedom and effective leadership.

Meanwhile, in a message targeted as much at Spain's internal population as its sub-Saharan partners, the international relations office said "helping persons of African origin and the battle against prejudice and anti-foreigner sentiment are also essential focuses".

Fine words of course are only a first step. But in today's sour international climate such discourse really does appear distinctive.