A Spanish newspaper said that US President Donald Trump’s invitation to Morocco, represented by King Mohammed VI, to join the Board of Peace as a founding member amounts to a political slap in the face for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, against the backdrop of strained relations between Madrid and Washington; tensions from which Rabat is benefiting, according to the paper.
According to Spain’s Okdiario, the invitation received by King Mohammed VI to take part in establishing the new international body does not relate solely to Gaza, but rather aims to contribute more broadly to peace-building efforts and conflict resolution at both regional and international levels.
The newspaper noted that the Moroccan monarch accepted the invitation, a move reflecting the growing standing Morocco enjoys with the US administration, particularly following Trump’s explicit support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a solution to the Sahara issue.
The same source argued that Morocco’s selection, described by Washington as a “preferred, strategic and key partner”, carries clear political significance, especially amid the cooling of relations between Sánchez’s government and the Trump administration.
In this context, the newspaper cited a statement from Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that King Mohammed VI received the invitation in his capacity as an influential regional and international leader, and responded positively, reaffirming Morocco’s commitment to initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and stability.
The Spanish daily added that the statutes of the Board of Peace stipulate that membership will be limited to a select group of leaders recognised for their “international integrity” and commitment to working towards a secure and stable future for coming generations.
The initiative, the paper said, reflects the level of trust Trump places in Morocco—and in King Mohammed VI personally—as a reliable partner on sensitive regional issues. In contrast, the paper argues that Sánchez now finds himself politically isolated, with Morocco emerging as one of the main beneficiaries of the rift between the Spanish prime minister and Trump.
The newspaper also noted that Rabat welcomed the announcement of the launch of the second phase of Trump’s comprehensive peace plan, as well as the creation of a national committee to administer Gaza as a temporary transitional body. Morocco, according to the same source, reiterated its commitment to working towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace with Israel.
Finally, the newspaper reported that the statutes of the Board of Peace—revealed by international media sources—provide for a financial contribution of up to $1 billion from countries wishing to join, in return for participation in a body aimed at “promoting global stability”.
