US confirms support for Morocco over Western Sahara
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated the US’ support for Morocco in their soveriegnity claims over the Western Sahara.
According to The New Arab on April 8th, Rubio met in Washington with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to discuss ties between the two nations.
In the wake of the meeting, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters hat the meeting “reiterated that the United States recognises 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 the crisis.’
Bruce went on to add that “the United States continues to believe that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution.”
Relations between the US and Morocco have strengthened since Donald Trump returned to office in 2024 and control over the Western Sahara will be key to maintaining those relations.
Morocco’s sovereignty claims have caused ruptures in the region, particularly with neighbouring Algeria, with whom relations were cut in 2021 due to the ongoing dispute over control of the vast desert region.
The US plans to work toward negotiations “without delay” using the Morocco proposal “as the only framework”.
France has also supported Morocco’s sovereignty claims over the Western Sahara, a move that has strained relations between Algeria and their former coloniser.
After years of ambiguity, Macron determined that Moroccan sovereignty was the “only basis” for a resolution.
Morocco controls the majority of the Western Sahara but faces challenges from the Polisario Front, a political group representing the rights of the native Saharawi people.
The Polisario Front has the support of Algeria as well as political parties and politicians across the world.
However, Morocco has made it increasingly difficult for political or legal support to reach the Polisario Front and as recently as March 15th, Spanish lawyers Maria Dolores and Flora Ramos were denied entry to the region along with politician Manuel Suarez.
The New Arab, Maghrebi
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