Doha – King Mohammed VI has received an official invitation to attend the upcoming 34th Ordinary Arab Summit scheduled for May 17 in Baghdad.
The invitation was delivered Wednesday by Mohamed Ali Tamim, Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, who visited Morocco as a special emissary of Iraqi President Abdel Latif Jamal Rachid. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita received Tamim on the King’s instructions.
During last year’s summit, the monarch renewed his call for Maghreb unity, voicing sharp dismay over the Union’s inertia and urging a revival grounded in cooperation, sovereignty, and mutual respect.
This invitation comes at a time of mounting Arab backing for Morocco on several fronts, reflecting the country’s rising regional stature and diplomatic influence.
At the 163rd session of the Arab League Council in Cairo last week, Arab foreign ministers praised Morocco’s role in defending Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause.
During the ministerial gathering, Arab foreign ministers lauded Morocco’s critical role in supporting Jerusalem, specifically commending the Al-Quds Committee, chaired by King Mohammed VI, for its “ongoing efforts to protect the holy city amid continued Israeli violations.”
The ministers also hailed the work of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, the committee’s executive arm, citing its “concrete actions supporting Jerusalem and its residents” as increasingly vital amid continued Israeli violations in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Arab League has also thrown its weight behind Morocco’s preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. During its 115th session in February, the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League passed a resolution urging all member states to support Morocco’s efforts for the global sporting event.
This follows similar endorsement from Gulf states, whose Secretary-General Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi pledged in December 2024 that “Gulf countries will be fully ready to provide all forms of support and cooperation to Rabat for this event.”
Read also: Arab Summit: King Mohammed VI ‘Regrets’ Maghreb Union’s Stagnation
Arab states have steadily consolidated their support for Morocco’s territorial integrity in the face of the Polisario-Iran axis – an ideologically driven bloc whose actions pose a direct threat to regional order and Morocco’s legitimate sovereignty.
When Algeria’s President Tebboune claimed in March 2024 that “there is no decision by the Arab League regarding Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara,” Arab League sources reportedly dismissed his statements as “a desperate attempt to spread discord and division among Arab brothers.”
The League has consistently stood firmly behind Morocco’s territorial position and the UN-led political process. All Security Council resolutions since 2007 have recognized the Moroccan autonomy initiative as “a serious and credible basis” for resolving the Sahara dispute.
Morocco’s diplomatic efforts have resulted in increased international support, with over 28 countries now operating consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla, while many have withdrawn recognition of the self-styled SADR.
Arab ministers have constantly reaffirmed the importance of the 2015 Skhirat Agreement as the cornerstone for resolving Libya’s political crisis, once again amplifying Morocco’s enduring diplomatic clout in regional affairs – an influence it has repeatedly asserted over the years.
The upcoming Baghdad summit on May 17 will address several political, economic, and social issues facing the Arab world, with the Palestinian cause expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
