US Renews Support for Morocco’s Sovereignty Over Western Sahara

Doha – In a decisive reaffirmation of US support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara as “the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute” during his meeting today with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

The high-level diplomatic engagement saw Rubio explicitly state that “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution,” while pledging to facilitate progress toward this objective.

The Secretary urged parties to “engage in discussions without delay, using Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as the only framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution.”

These remarks come as Algeria continues to block the UN-led political process by refusing to shoulder its responsibility in the dispute.

In a recent meeting with UN Envoy on Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura, Algeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Attaf renewed his country’s reluctance, stating that a solution to the dispute should be found by Morocco and the separatist Polisario Front.

The statement reflects Algeria’s refusal to engage in the UN-led political process, especially the roundtable talk initiative established initially by former envoy Horst Kohler.

In recent years, UN Security Council resolutions have repeatedly hailed the roundtable talks as genuinely contributing to the UN-led political process to end the lingering Sahara dispute, stressing the importance of engaging all parties to the dispute, including Algeria, in this process.

Bourita’s visit to the US follows Secretary of State Rubio’s earlier commitment during his January Senate confirmation hearing, where he had already doubled down on America’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, signaling policy continuity with the Trump administration’s landmark 2020 decision.

Morocco emerged as one of the first countries Washington reengaged with following Trump’s return to the White House, with Bourita and Rubio holding strategic talks just one week after the inauguration

During these initial discussions, both officials had reaffirmed their commitment to “advancing regional and global peace and security under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.”

The US position has remained unwavering despite previous challenges. The late Senator Jim Inhofe, who passed away in July 2024, had led unsuccessful efforts to reverse the US stance, including an attempt to mobilize 26 senators against Trump’s recognition decision.

This desperate Algerian-led lobbying ultimately failed to sway US policy, with both the Biden administration and now the second Trump administration maintaining recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.

The CIA recently updated its official maps to reflect this position, explicitly showing Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco’s territory.

This cartographic update coincides with similar recognition from key international partners, as France officially recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in July 2024, while Spain had previously endorsed the autonomy plan in March 2022.

With Trump’s return to office, the US-Morocco partnership is poised for significant expansion across multiple domains.

Anticipated developments include the establishment of a US consulate in Dakhla, increased American official visits to Western Sahara, the territory’s integration into the African Lion military exercises, and the potential relocation of US-Moroccan strategic dialogue to the region.

The bilateral relationship, which traces back to 1777 when Morocco became the first nation to recognize American independence, has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement exemplifies this evolution, having catalyzed bilateral trade from $1.34 billion in 2006 to $5.44 billion in 2018.

As both countries prepare to commemorate 250 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, this latest affirmation of support for Morocco’s territorial integrity reinforces what stands as the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in US history.