On Tuesday, August 6, the autonomous government of the Canary Islands, led by a right-wing coalition formed by Coalition Canaria and the People's Party, commented on the Royal Moroccan Navy's exercises in the waters off the Saharan provinces. Contrary to the version given by the far-left formation Sumar, the government clarified that «the exercises are taking place far from the median line that separates the Canary Islands from Morocco». This announcement was made by Nieves Lady Barreto, Advisor to the Presidency, Public Administration, Justice, and Security of the archipelago's government. Speaking to the press, she said that the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already informed the Canary Islands government of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) maneuvers. The official also revealed that «the Kingdom of Morocco has informed the Spanish government through an official communication about the organization of the exercises in the waters close to Western Sahara». Yesterday, Tesh Sidi, an MP for Sumar of Saharawi origin, stressed in written questions to the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs that the FAR exercises are «a blackmail operation on the part of Rabat and an invitation to European governments to endorse its occupation of Saharawi territory».
