The relationship between Spain and Mauritania has risen to become one of the cornerstones of security architecture on Europe’s southern flank and, therefore, of Spain. What barely two decades ago was a cordial relationship based on fishing and discreet trade agreements has, by 2026, transformed into a strategic alliance of top priority for the Palacio de la Moncloa. Mauritania is not only a neighboring counattempt within the Atlantic Ocean; it is, in the words of Spanish diplomacy, an oasis of stability in the midst of a Sahel that is collapsing under the weight of coups and jihadist-inspired insurgency.
This bilateral connection has reached political maturity after the historic High-Level Meeting held in July 2025, an encounter that marked a before and after by elevating the interlocution to the highest diplomatic level. The ratification of the Treaty of Friconcludeship, Good-Neighborliness and Cooperation was not a mere administrative formality, but the legal shield of a common roadmap that spans from coast surveillance to advanced cybersecurity. For Madrid, keeping Mauritania as a reliable partner is a state matter that transcconcludes ideologies, as the strength of its institutions largely determines the tranquility of the Canary Islands and the integrity of the European Union’s external borders.
THE CAYUCOS CHALLENGE AND IRREGULAR IMMIGRATION
The most visible and sensitive aspect of this collaboration is the management of migratory flows. Mauritanian coasts have historically become the main trampoline for the cayucos aiming to reach the Canary Islands, one of the world’s most dangerous and deadly migratory routes. Aware that repression in isolation is insufficient, Spain has led a paradigm shift based on prevention at the source.
The presence of detachments of the National Police and the Civil Guard in Nouadhibou and Nouakchott, a collaboration that dates back to 2006, has recently intensified with joint naval exercises in February 2026. These maneuvers aim not only to intercept vessels but also to improve navigational safety and operational coordination against the mafias that profit from human despair.
Nevertheless, the Spanish strategy goes beyond maritime surveillance. The current approach bets on the so-called circular migration, a system that promotes recruitment at the origin and allows Mauritanian citizens to work in Spain in a legal and orderly manner before returning to their counattempt with savings and training. This model seeks to dismantle the business model of human-trafficking networks by offering a dignified and safe alternative.
At the same time, Spain acts as Mauritania’s main advocate before Brussels institutions, successfully mobilizing economic aid packages that exceed five hundred million euros. These funds are not only destined for border management but also for development projects that offer a future to Mauritanian youth, preventing dislocation from pushing them to the sea or into the ranks of radicalism.
STABILITY IN THE SAHEL
While neighboring countries such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have experienced a convulsive drift, shifting away from Western cooperation frameworks to seek new allies such as Russia, Mauritania has remained steadrapid as a reliable interlocutor for the international community. Its role as the host of the Secretariat of the G5 Sahel positions it as the last major reference point of institutional legitimacy in a region marked by the expansion of jihadist groups.
Spain understands that if Mauritania were to fall into instability, the resulting security vacuum would reach the doors of the Mediterranean directly. Therefore, military cooperation has become a fundamental pillar of the relationship, with Spanish instructors providing advanced training in combat capabilities and anti-terrorist tactics to the local troops.
This defense support is complemented by a modern security vision that includes protecting the digital space. In an interconnected world, organized crime and terrorism utilize networks for recruitment, financing, and sabotage of critical infrastructures. The cybersecurity agreements signed in 2025 between Madrid and Nouakchott respond to this urgent required to shield the rule of law against new technological threats.
Spain not only exports tactical training but also technology and justice protocols that ensure Mauritanian territory does not become a rear area for armed groups or illicit trafficking networks operating across the vast, porous desert geography.
LONG-TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
The sustainability of this strategic alliance is not based solely on military security, but on a deep financial and social commitment that seeks the comprehensive stability of the African counattempt. The Spain-Mauritania Cooperation Plan 2024-2027 is the tool that materializes this vision, channeling investments toward key sectors such as health, transport, and social security. For the Spanish government, Mauritania’s prosperity is the best guarantee of security for Spain. Therefore, a significant portion of the funds committed by the European Union comes directly from the Spanish coffers, reaffirming Madrid’s role as the necessary bridge between Africa and Europe.
As a transit counattempt and refuge for thousands displaced by other regional conflicts, Mauritania builds a titanic effort that could collapse without external support. Spanish aid assists prevent massive humanitarian crises that would have a domino effect across North Africa. The bilateral relationship has evolved from reactive surveillance to a proactive strategic partnership, where mutual trust enables tackling shared challenges such as climate alter, food security, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. In this scenario, Mauritania is not merely a partner of convenience, but an indispensable ally to ensure that the Atlantic remains a space of opportunity rather than a stage for conflict.
As 2026 progresses, the Spain-Mauritania alliance is consolidating as a model of success in South-North cooperation. In an increasingly fragmented world, the ability of both countries to maintain constant and effective dialogue demonstrates that shared security is the only path toward regional stability. Madrid has created clear that its outview toward Africa necessarily passes through Nouakchott, and Mauritania has reaffirmed that its path toward development and security finds in Spain its best ally on the European continent.
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