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Rabat – Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita along with US Secretary Antony Blinken and Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid will all attend a tripartite high-level meeting on December 22 to celebrate the first anniversary of the US-Morocco-Israel joint declaration.
On December 22, 2020, the three countries signed the declaration, which marked the re-establishment of relations between Morocco and Israel.
The joint declaration established that the three countries will work together to strengthen relations in all fields, including trade, tourism, technology, among others.
Moroccan outlet Le360 said the anniversary ceremony was scheduled as an in-person event initially. The appearance of the Omicron variant in several countries, however, is likely leading to the ceremony becoming a virtual event.
“The proposal for a virtual meeting comes from Secretary Antony Blinken, who is keen to commemorate the first anniversary of the tripartite agreement,” Le360’s source said.
The three countries, however, have still to decide on the format of the ceremony.
The ceremony is set to additionally mark the first anniversary of the US decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
On December 20, 2020, former US President Donald Trump announced his country’s recognition of Morocco’s territorial integrity.
“Morocco recognized the United States in 1777. It is thus fitting we recognize their sovereignty over the Western Sahara,” Trump said at the time.
The decision was applauded by the Moroccan government and people, as well as countries and organizations supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity.
However, the US decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, angered the Algerian-backed separatist group Polisario and countries opposing the Moroccan position on the region.
Since then, Algeria and its lobbyists in Washington have attempted to convince the new US administration to reverse Trump’s decision.
The administration of US President Joe Biden however, upheld and confirmed its position, emphasizing support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible and serious solution to end the Sahara conflict.
