DR ‹ › Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf held talks on Monday and Tuesday with his Croatian and Belgian counterparts, in meetings held in Zagreb and Brussels, respectively, without the Western Sahara issue featuring on the agenda. Official Algerian communication surrounding the visits instead highlighted Algiers' intent to strengthen economic ties with both Croatia and Belgium, with a particular focus on hydrocarbons and renewable energy. The absence of any reference to Western Sahara was also noted on Tuesday in Algiers, during a speech by Prime Minister Greib Sifi at the opening of a meeting with his Serbian counterpart. Belgrade had already expressed its support, in June 2023, for Morocco's position on the issue, shortly after a visit by Ahmed Attaf. These omissions reflect well-established political realities. In April 2025, Croatia voiced its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, describing it as a «solid basis» for resolving the conflict. This position was formalized in a joint statement issued after a meeting between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Croatian counterpart. Similarly, the Belgian government reaffirmed on March 2 in Rabat its «clear and consistent» support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, which it considers «the most adequate, serious, credible, and realistic basis» for achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the regional dispute. Notably, the Western Sahara issue was also absent from discussions held last week in Algiers between President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
