I have often wondered why the Europeans didn’t invade and conquer the Barbary Coast, which they could have easily done during the centuries they were taking over the New World and fighting with one another in Europe. It wasn’t until the second decade of the nineteenth century that the Barbary pirates were finally subdued.
Actually after 1492 and the Moorish expulsion, Spain did have presence in north Africa. However, little by little these enclaves were taken over by Muslims. Finally Spain lost their last fortified port, I think in the 1560s. I would have to go back to the book I read to be more precise. You answered your own thought. Europeans were too busy fighting one another. Also the payoffs in the new world were far bigger than in desert north Africa. Also England and others were busy gaining footholds in India, Indonesia, China, etc.
Jefferson finally got PO’d an took a wack at them with some success and urged the Europeans to get their act together.