UK endorses Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan

According to Middle East Monitor, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said on 1st June that the United Kingdom views Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the most practical foundation for resolving the longstanding dispute over Western Sahara.

The decades-old conflict has remained largely frozen, pitting Morocco – which claims the territory as an integral part of its sovereign land – against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which demands full independence for the resource-rich desert region.

“The autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute,” Lammy told reporters following talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat.

Lammy added that the UK would continue to advance this position through multiple channels: “The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict.”

The British endorsement marks a significant diplomatic development, placing the UK alongside the United States and France as the third permanent member of the UN Security Council to back Morocco’s autonomy initiative.

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the announcement as a “historic” move and part of “a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict.” He also confirmed that British investments in Western Sahara were under consideration as bilateral ties deepen.

During Lammy’s visit, the UK and Morocco signed a series of cooperation agreements covering healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure, and public procurement – highlighting growing economic and strategic alignment between the two nations.

Lammy noted the broader implications of the partnership, particularly as Morocco ramps up infrastructure investment ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The agreements, he said, would “ensure British businesses score big on football’s biggest stage.”

Middle East Monitor/ Maghrebi.org