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Rabat – The US has issued its first waiver to maintain military cooperation with Morocco.
According to US Africa Command, the US Secretary of Defense signed a waiver recently, allowing the Command department to continue its extensive cooperation and military training with Morocco.
The Middle East Eye quoted spokeswoman for US Africa Command Bardha Aqzari, emphasizing the importance of military cooperation between the US and Morocco.
“Our military partnership with Morocco is strong, and we are confident this unshakable partnership will continue to flourish in the years ahead.”
The expected decision to issue a waiver came just a few days following the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to Morocco.
Sherman traveled to Morocco earlier this week, holding meetings with senior officials, including Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita.
During the meeting, Sherman lauded military cooperation with Morocco and the country’s efforts in combating terrorism to ensure regional security and stability.
“The Deputy Secretary thanked Morocco, a stable security-exporting partner, for its leadership of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and for its sustaining role in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, including by co-chairing the Africa Focus Group of the Coalition and hosting the upcoming Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition in May,” a joint statement after Sherman’s meeting with Bourita said.
Sherman also expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s support for the annual African Lion multilateral military exercise.
The waiver from the US department is a new measure in response to the House of Representatives suggested changes to the US defense spending bill that sought to limit military cooperation with Morocco.
The passing of the congressional bill came after senators included a text that aimed to limit US support for military forces in Morocco.
Section 1209 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) aims to put pressure on Biden’s administration, and Morocco by halting bilateral military cooperation in an effort to force Morocco to negotiate its territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Prior to the passing of the bill, the US administration of President Joe Biden expressed concerns regarding the section seeking to limit military cooperation with Morocco, saying that this text would require US Department of Defense engagement.
The Biden administration revised the text in November 2021 to allow for a State department waiver to continue military cooperation. The expected signing of the waiver this week provides another signal about the strength of cooperation between Morocco and the US.
It is also another blow to Polisario’s supporters in the US congress, who sought to undermine Morocco’s position in Western Sahara.
Several senators, including James Inhofe have been attempting to convince Biden to reverse the US recognition over Morocco’s Western Sahara position.The US recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in December 2020.
Former US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to support Morocco’s position. The current US Department is upholding the position, renewing its position that Morocco’s Autonomy Plan is a “credible” and “serious” solution to help end the dispute.
As part of official recognition of sovereignty, the US has since adopted Morocco’s undivided map, including Western Sahara on its official websites, including the State Department portal.
