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The Spanish government is pursuing a distinctly different path from several developed states when it comes to immigration strategies and engagement with the African mainland.

Whereas nations including the USA, UK, France and Germany are cutting back their international support allocations, Spain remains committed to expanding its participation, even from a lower starting point.

Current Programs

Currently, the capital city has been accommodating an AU-supported "world conference on persons of African origin". AfroMadrid2025 will discuss reparative equity and the establishment of a fresh assistance program.

This represents the most recent sign of how Madrid's leadership is working to enhance and diversify its engagement with the mainland that rests only a few kilometres to the south, beyond the Gibraltar passage.

Strategic Framework

In July International Relations Head José Manuel Albares established a recent guidance panel of renowned scholarly, foreign service and heritage experts, the majority of them African, to monitor the implementation of the thorough Spanish-African initiative that his administration unveiled at the close of the prior year.

Additional diplomatic missions south of the Sahara, and collaborations in business and academic are arranged.

Migration Management

The difference between Madrid's strategy and that of others in the West is not just in expenditure but in tone and outlook – and particularly evident than in addressing immigration.

Similar to other European locations, Government Leader the Spanish premier is seeking methods to control the arrival of unauthorized entrants.

"For us, the immigration situation is not only a matter of ethical standards, unity and respect, but also one of logic," the government leader commented.

Over 45,000 people made the perilous sea crossing from West African coastline to the island territory of the Atlantic islands the previous year. Estimates of those who died while undertaking the journey vary from 1,400 to a astonishing 10,460.

Practical Solutions

Madrid's government needs to shelter recent entrants, evaluate their applications and oversee their integration into broader community, whether transient or more long-lasting.

Nonetheless, in rhetoric markedly different from the hostile messaging that comes from many European capitals, the Sanchez government openly acknowledges the difficult financial circumstances on the territory in West Africa that push people to risk their lives in the effort to reach Europe.

Additionally, it strives to exceed simply denying access to incoming migrants. Instead, it is developing creative alternatives, with a promise to promote movements of people that are secure, systematic and routine and "mutually beneficial".

Economic Partnerships

During his visit to the West African nation the previous year, Sanchez emphasized the participation that migrants contribute to the Spanish economy.

The Spanish government finances skill development initiatives for youth without work in nations including Senegal, particularly for undocumented individuals who have been returned, to help them develop viable new livelihoods in their homeland.

Furthermore, it increased a "cyclical relocation" programme that gives West Africans limited-duration authorizations to come to Spain for limited periods of seasonal work, mostly in cultivation, and then go back.

Policy Significance

The core principle underlying Spain's engagement is that Spain, as the continental nation closest to the mainland, has an essential self interest in the region's development toward equitable and enduring progress, and peace and security.

That basic rationale might seem apparent.

However previous eras had guided Spain down a noticeably unique course.

Other than a limited Mediterranean outposts and a compact tropical possession – currently sovereign the Central African nation – its territorial acquisition in the historical period had mostly been oriented across the Atlantic.

Forward Vision

The heritage aspect incorporates not only advancement of Castilian, with an enhanced representation of the language promotion body, but also schemes to help the transfer of academic teachers and investigators.

Protection partnership, measures regarding environmental shifts, female advancement and an increased international engagement are expected elements in the current climate.

Nonetheless, the approach also puts notable focus it places on backing democratic principles, the pan-African body and, in specific, the regional West African group the Economic Community of West African States.

This represents favorable governmental endorsement for the latter, which is now experiencing substantial difficulties after witnessing its half-century celebration marred by the walk-out of the Sahel nations – the West African nation, the Malian Republic and Niger – whose governing armed forces have refused to comply with its agreement regarding democratic governance and good governance.

Meanwhile, in a statement targeted as much at the national citizenry as its African collaborators, the international relations office said "assisting the African community abroad and the battle against prejudice and immigrant hostility are also key priorities".

Fine words of course are only a first step. But in the current negative global atmosphere such terminology really does stand out.