New phase of cooperation on the cards for US and Morocco
A new phase of cooperation could be on the cards for Morocco and the US, with the North African country’s southern provinces taking precedence within the context of bilateral objectives, as reported by Arab Weekly and agencies on January 14th.
This news comes amid the appointment of Richard Duke Buchan as the new US Ambassador to Morocco, and follows the swearing in of Buchan and the presentation of credentials to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.
Reportedly, Buchan signalled Washington’s intention to prioritise political stability and economic investment in North Africa, with the establishment of a US consulate in Morocco’s south to help facilitate investments and major development initiatives. Buchan also said that bilateral efforts will prioritise the progression of development projects in the North African country’s south.
The US has also supported Moroccan sovereignty as the most credible solution to the Western Sahara territorial dispute with Alegria, which has been ongoing since the end of Spanish colonial rule in 1975.
Under Resolution 2797, also known as the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, the Western Sahara would be granted limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty; the plan was widely supported at the UN Security Council on October 31st, 2025.
However, Algeria has rejected the plan and instead argued for a referendum on the issue, which they frame as an issue of self-determination for the Sahrawi people, whose ancestral homeland is the Western Sahara.
Algeria backs the Polisario Front, a separatist militia which claims to be engaged in an armed struggle against what it perceives as Morocco’s illegal occupation of the Sahrawi territory.
It was reported on January 8th that the US was pushing Algeria to review its stance on the Western Sahara dispute, with President Donald Trump’s senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, confirming that resolving the conflict was a top priority.
Similarly, Boulos appeared to dismiss the Polisario Front’s legitimacy during an October 2025 interview with Sky News Arabia, where he seemingly omitted any mention of the group in relation to the conflict.
According to reporting in January 2025, at least 46 countries have suspended or severed ties with the Polisario Front. Through its seemingly unwavering support for the militia, Algeria has become increasingly isolated on the world stage.
Arab Weekly and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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