فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI of Morocco on the occasion of Throne Day, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump reaffirmed America’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara, strongly endorsing Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the sole realistic solution to the long-standing artificial dispute. “I would also like to reaffirm that the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to this dispute,” Trump stated unequivocally in the message, relayed by news agencies. This declaration is not merely a repetition of past policy but a continuation of the historic stance taken by the Trump administration in December 2020, which marked a major turning point in bolstering Morocco’s international efforts.
In a significant development aligning with this political stance, the specialized African affairs magazine “Africa Intelligence” revealed that the former Trump administration was preparing concrete steps to bolster this recognition. This involved lifting restrictions imposed on U.S. investments in Morocco’s southern provinces – restrictions later enacted under President Joe Biden – by planning direct financial support for American companies seeking to invest in the Sahara region. The move aimed to translate political recognition into tangible economic partnerships, fostering regional prosperity and stability.
To understand the depth of this U.S. position and the growing international backing for Morocco’s initiative, key archival moments highlight the evolving landscape. The pivotal date remains December 10, 2020, when President Trump issued a historic proclamation formally recognizing “Moroccan sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.” This act, the culmination of a long diplomatic path and directly linked to the U.S.-brokered Morocco-Israel normalization agreement, was accompanied by instructions to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to open a U.S. consulate in Laayoune, cementing American diplomatic and economic presence in the region. While the current Biden administration has shown reluctance to explicitly reiterate this sovereignty recognition, focusing instead on supporting “UN efforts” and the “UN-led political process” while acknowledging Morocco’s autonomy plan as “serious and realistic,” the formal recognition itself has not been rescinded. Some forms of security and economic cooperation have continued, despite the investment restrictions revealed by “Africa Intelligence.”
Internationally, support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the realistic solution has surged significantly. France, Morocco’s historic ally, consistently advocates for a “negotiated political solution” and explicitly backs the Moroccan proposal as a “realistic and credible basis” for resolution. Spain, after years of relative neutrality, made a landmark shift in March 2022 when Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government declared its explicit support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “most serious, realistic, and credible basis” for resolving the dispute. Germany, following a period of tension, normalized relations and now strongly backs “UN efforts” and the “political process,” with increasingly positive signals towards the Moroccan initiative. The European Union as a whole supports a “negotiated political solution” under UN auspices, with its major member states like France and Spain explicitly endorsing Morocco’s plan, while continuously deepening economic and security partnerships with Morocco, including its southern provinces. Furthermore, Morocco’s autonomy initiative enjoys broad support from the Arab League, the African Union (despite some complexities), and the vast majority of their member states, who view it as the most pragmatic path to ensuring regional stability.
Trump’s reaffirmation in his letter to King Mohammed VI thus serves as a powerful reminder of the geopolitical earthquake triggered by the U.S. recognition of Moroccan Sahara sovereignty and the burgeoning global consensus behind the autonomy plan as the sole viable solution. The economic maneuvers uncovered by “Africa Intelligence” underscore how this political backing seeks concrete manifestation through developmental projects in the region. As international support for Morocco’s initiative continues to accumulate, the trajectory towards resolving the Sahara dispute appears increasingly aligned with the political solution proposed by Rabat: broad autonomy under full Moroccan sovereignty.
