Hypothetical united Iberia in North Africa

So, after the rule of the Catholic Monarchs there are a couple of very likely POD's that see the unification of Iberia (Spain) under a the Portuguese King. This is not a new WI for the site, for example the excellent Prince of Peace, but I have a question.

If we assume this timeline is somewhat fortuitous for the Spanish, and the Castile's wealth from the Americas is ploughed into the Portuguese Eastern Trade routes (enhancing their sustainability and profitability), as well as Aragon's Western Mediterranean "Empire" including significant influence on the Italian Peninsula, we could potentially see a very powerful, highly involved State building itself up from its strong advantages.

Factor in religious war in Spain's biggest competitors, England, France, HRE etc. (maybe even Catholic refugees) and a less than stellar performing Ottoman Empire, let's throw one more thing into the mix:

A determined effort by the Spanish to go into the North African interior far more than in the OTL, capturing not only the coastal cities but important centres like Fez and Marrakesh. Basically, resources that Spain sunk into religious wars in Europe instead get sunk here, but with Portugal and Spain one entity and arguably even more profitable an entity.

What I'm wondering is, considering military technology at the time, logistics, population potential, etc. How likely is such a scenario successful such that come 1700, 1800, etc. Spain still has effective control of much of interior North Africa?
 
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Why would the Spanish go further into Northern Africa? Without a real economic goal religious zealotry won't last.

The traditional way to eradicate pirates was to take over the coastline plus sufficiently much of the Hinterland to keep them out. This is something the Spanish never managed. fighting the Barbary pirates could be a political aim that adds to religious zealotry.

Considering the economic goal: the land could be settled, the richess of the orient could be looted.

But you're right that this is not enough for a generation-spanning effort...
 
So what you are saying is the issue is not one of logistics, but one of motivation?

If Spain stays out of the Religious wars in the HRE then they'll have a lot of disposable income. They certainly will have the potential be able to tackle the Barbary pirates better and if Aragon is able to retain some influence they might desire action taken. We know that both Spain and Portugal in OTL held coastal cities. Continued raids, nothing better to do, prompts from the Pope?

Is it really that unusual for States to conquer areas for no other reason than because they can and the prestige it gives?
 
I think it's both a logistical and motivational issue. Why conquer some fairly unproductive territory in North Africa when you already are in the process of conquering a gigantic empire in the Americas? Sending troops to North Africa diverts them from the Americas, where some areas took decades to pacify.
 
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