New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Doubles Down on Western Sahara Recognition

Doha – Marco Rubio, the incoming US Secretary of State, reinforced America’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 15.

Speaking at the US Capitol in Washington, Rubio touched upon Morocco’s role as a strategic partner while addressing US diplomatic engagement in Africa.

His stance appears to signal continuity with the Trump administration’s 2020 decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.

The incoming Trump administration’s position was further amplified by Congressman Joe Wilson, who, during a public session of Congress on the same day, explicitly denounced the Polisario Front as a “terrorist” organization.

Wilson warned that “War criminal Putin, Iran, and Cuba are actively destabilizing West Africa by supporting the Polisario Front, a threat to the Kingdom of Morocco.”

This diplomatic backing follows the historic US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, first announced by then-President Donald Trump on December 10, 2020.

While the Biden administration maintained this recognition, it showed hesitancy in advancing certain initiatives, notably the planned US consulate in Dakhla.

Richard R. Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, indicated in March 2024 that funding for the consulate was not included in the 2025 diplomatic budget, citing ongoing security assessments.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration has consistently reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s position. As recently as October 2024, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated that US policy regarding Western Sahara remains unchanged, particularly in response to questions about UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s controversial partition proposal.

This position was further reinforced in November 2024, when Barbara Leaf, US Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, met with Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, describing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as “serious and credible” for resolving the Western Sahara dispute.

Rubio, known for his hardline stance against Algeria, previously called for sanctions against Algiers in September 2022, criticizing its military purchases from Russia.

In a letter to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rubio identified Algeria as “one of the world’s leading buyers of Russian military equipment,” calling for sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.

During his five-hour confirmation hearing, the 53-year-old Secretary of State-designate specifically talked about Morocco’s progress: “If you look towards the west of Africa, there are real opportunities in progress, not only regarding counter-terrorism but also economic development.”

“I also think, to the north, of Morocco, where we are seeing substantial advances, thanks to the Agreements [Abraham Accords], but also thanks to a relationship that continues to build,” he said.

Congressman Wilson, who chairs the US-Morocco Caucus in the House of Representatives, reinforced this position by describing Morocco as “an essential partner of the United States for 250 years.”

He particularly criticized the Polisario’s recent reception of Kurdish PKK members in Tindouf, describing it as undermining US NATO ally Turkiye.

The confirmation hearing, which took place just days before Trump’s inauguration, signals a potentially strengthened US-Morocco relationship under the new administration, with particular emphasis on maintaining the Western Sahara recognition policy established in 2020.