Despite the noticeable improvement in relations between Morocco and Spain in recent years, a significant portion of Spaniards still view the kingdom as a military threat, second only to Russia. DR ‹ › More than half of Spaniards consider Morocco to be one of the main military threats to their country, according to a recent survey conducted by SocioMétrica for the newspaper El Español. The findings come at a time when public attitudes toward other global powers range between rapprochement and distancing. The study surveyed 1,712 Spanish respondents eligible to vote between April 15 and 18, 2026, with an estimated margin of error of ±3%. The methodology ensured representation by gender, age, and political affiliation. According to the results, 57.6% of respondents view Morocco as a «military threat», against the backdrop of Rabat's continued claims over the cities of Ceuta and Melilla. In addition, 61.4% believe Spain should «distance itself» from Morocco, while only 31.7% favor closer ties. Sánchez's Morocco policy at odds with public opinion The survey also shows that 52% of voters for the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) consider Morocco a threat. This perception rises sharply among voters of the People's Party (97.3%) and Vox (92.2%). By contrast, 62% of Sumar and Podemos voters do not see Morocco as a threat, with 65% supporting closer relations. Among PSOE voters, opinion is evenly split: 45.5% favor distancing from Morocco, while 45.3% support strengthening ties. This divide persists despite a significant shift in Spain's policy under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has moved to strengthen relations with Rabat, particularly after backing Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara in 2022, marking a break with his party's previous stance. In comparison, Russia is seen as the primary military threat, with 67.9% of respondents identifying it as a direct danger and 74.2% favoring distancing, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. The United States is viewed differently: only 29.5% consider it a threat, while 61.7% support closer relations. Meanwhile, 52.1% of Spaniards see Israel as a military threat, compared to 41.9% who do not, and 48% favor distancing from it. As for Iran, 34.2% of respondents perceive it as a threat, yet a large majority (78.5%) believe Spain should distance itself from the country.
