Rabat – Poland has taken a new diplomatic position by officially supporting Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, calling it “a serious, realistic, and pragmatic basis for a lasting solution” to the regional dispute.
The announcement came in a joint statement released Tuesday after a phone call between Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita.
Poland’s endorsement adds to a growing list of international supporters. To date, 23 European Union countries and more than 120 nations worldwide back a solution based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, according to the Moroccan Foreign Ministry.
The Moroccan Autonomy Plan, first presented to the United Nations in 2007, offers the Sahara region broad self-governing powers while keeping it under Moroccan sovereignty. The plan has been widely recognized internationally as a credible framework for resolving the long-standing dispute peacefully.
Poland’s new position reflects the increasing global recognition of Morocco’s efforts and strengthens the momentum for a diplomatic resolution that ensures stability and development in the region.
Rising international backing
Earlier this year, the UK officially endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most viable solution to the Western Sahara conflict. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the plan offers a pragmatic framework, marking a significant shift from Britain’s previous position, which supported self-determination without committing to a specific plan.
This endorsement places the UK alongside the United States and France in backing Morocco’s proposal.
France officially expressed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024 when President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco’s autonomy plan and described it as the most credible solution to the conflict.
“The present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” Macron stated.
In addition, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati visited Western Sahara to inaugurate a French cultural center, further symbolizing France’s commitment to Morocco’s position.
The United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara back in December 2020, with Donald Trump recently reiterating support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and confirming plans to soon build a US consulate in the region.
Spain has also shifted its position in 2022 and endorsed the Moroccan initiative as the most serious and realistic basis for resolving the dispute. Portugal has similarly aligned with Morocco’s position, with the government expressing support for the autonomy plan and distancing itself from the self-styled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
