Latest news with #MoroccanAutonomyPlan
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Western Sahara: UK Support for Moroccan Sovereignty Is a Matter of Time
Rabat – With the ongoing momentum in support of Morocco's Western Sahara position, there have been serious appeals from UK politicians who urged their government to follow in the steps of major powers like the US and France and recognize Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces, or at least back the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only serious and credible path toward a lasting political resolution of the Sahara question. For years, the UK has clung to a traditional and very cautious position on the dispute, limiting this stance to its support for Morocco's efforts within the framework of the UN-led political process. But this position stops short of explicitly endorsing any particular solution, including the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, which has received clear and resounding support from over 113 countries in the past few years. While London acknowledges Morocco's engagement and efforts in the political process over Western Sahara, its position remains ambiguous and in stark contrast with Rabat's new policy and approach over its interests. In September 2022, King Mohammed VI set a clear vision for the future of the Sahara, both diplomatically and economically. In his historic speech, the monarch stressed that Western Sahara is the lens through which Morocco views its relations and cooperation with other countries. Morocco will enter into no agreement or partnership with any country that undermines its most important cause by challenging or casting doubt on its territorial integrity, the King stressed. 'I therefore expect certain states among Morocco's traditional partners as well as new ones, whose stances concerning the Moroccanness of the Sahara are ambiguous, to clarify their positions and reconsider them in a manner that leaves no room for doubt,' he said. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has recently acknowledged that the current UK government's position on Western Sahara remains the same as that of the previous governments. However, he stressed that the Sahara dossier is under review 'as we continue to discuss these issues in the region.' He made these comments during a parliamentary session in April, prompting speculation and signaling a potential change in the UK's traditional stance. Like many countries, such as the US, France, and Spain, the UK is well aware of what the Sahara dossier means to Morocco. This has been evident in the ongoing appeals and growing pressure from within the British establishment. Over the years, dozens of UK parliamentarians have repeatedly called on their respective governments to align with key allies by recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces. Last year, over 30 MPs and Peers penned a letter to the former UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Cameron, urging the timely recognition of Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the most viable solution to the dispute. 'Morocco stands paramount among these partner nations, it is a top strategic ally in North Africa, with shared values and perspectives crucial to both our countries,' they emphasized. The letter also warned against separatism or division, emphasizing the importance of reinforcing or boosting bilateral relations with a key ally like Morocco. 'The dangerous escalations and catastrophic effects of conflict in the Middle East have intensified the spread of terrorism and extremism, providing an opportunity for hostile militias to broaden their ideological reach and influence beyond their own borders,' the letter reads . It also emphasized the economic and geopolitical potential of the Western Sahara region, including the development of infrastructure in Morocco's southern provinces, including the port of Dakhla. The letter described the region as a 'hub for innovation and international cooperation in Africa.' In addition to this letter, several UK politicians individually called on their country to support the ongoing momentum by recognizing Morocco's territorial integrity. Some have even joined international appeals, calling for the designation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist group. Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defense in the UK, has for instance called on his country to label Polisario as a terrorist group. 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation,' Fox wrote on X. Time to make up for previous diplomatic mistakes Britain significantly contributed to colonial dynamics in Morocco in the early 20th century, particularly during the period surrounding the 1906 Algeciras Conference . After wielding unrivaled political and economic influence over Morocco in the late 19th century, the UK renounced its economic interests in Morocco by signing the Algeciras Act alongside other European powers. This act allowed France to establish control over Morocco, with the main goal of guaranteeing equal economic rights for all signatories. France, of course, dominated Morocco's economy. This means that the UK had a hand in facilitating France's dominance over Morocco, its economy, and political affairs. In closely aligning with Paris, the UK contributed to dismissing the North African country's independence aspirations, and safeguarding imperial integrity through diplomatic maneuvers. The Algeciras conference ultimately resulted in a European agreement that divided interests and influence within Morocco, leading to its subjugation under French and Spanish colonization. Well before the conference, France signed a treaty with Britain in 1904. In that accord, Paris renounced its ambitions in Egypt in favor of London. In exchange, France received the UK's support for its right to occupy Morocco. A third treaty also came the same year between France and Spain, confirming Spain's right to occupy northern Morocco in exchange for supporting France's expansion into the rest of Moroccan territory. As many Western countries rush to embrace Morocco's Autonomy Plan, observers have suggested that the UK is facing a now or never dilemma when it comes to making up for its historical mistakes in Morocco. With France and the US having taken the bold decision of recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara , many in Rabat and Rabat hope to see the UK follow in their footsteps in the coming weeks. Business interest Beyond political interests, many countries decided to reinforce ties with Morocco as the country continues to position itself as a leader in several areas, including security, migration management, agriculture, and renewable energy. With Morocco scheduled to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, the country has also become a target of business interests for governments and businesses. Earlier this month, UK Minister of State for Investment Baroness Gustafsson answered an MP's question on the country's potential cooperation, reinforcing trade ties with Morocco. Gustafsson said that the Department for Business and Trade is 'committed to helping UK businesses export to Morocco.' This effort aligns with the UK-Morocco Association Agreement the two countries signed in 2019 post-Brexit, he suggested. 'Bilateral trade was worth £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6 billion in current prices from 2023,' the minister stated, stressing the importance of Morocco as a co-host of the World Cup. In a recent interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance (UKEF) Tim Reid also expressed his country's determination to explore the World Cup as an opportunity for deepening British investments in Morocco. 'In Morocco, we are focusing on World Cup-related projects as we are keen to be part of this exciting adventure,' he said, noting the agency's £5 billion commitment to Moroccan projects. The goal of such a move would be to contribute to positioning the North African country as a strategic launching point for British commercial interests throughout Africa, Reid argued. Many British companies have also been operating in Morocco, particularly in the renewable energy sector, with companies like Sound Energy seeing Morocco as a promising hub in the sector. Of course, such enthusiastic expression of interest is bound to be met by frustration from the separatist Polisario Front and Algeria, which continues to maneuver against Morocco's territorial integrity by advocating and threatening companies not to invest in southern provinces. In March, the Polisario Front explicitly turned to its terrorist tactics by targeting foreign businesses that are operating in Morocco's southern provinces or seeking a presence in the region. 'Let the Sahrawi stay away from foreigners and not come telling us they're civilians or innocent. This is not a tourism context, but a wartime context,' a member of the Polisario Front leadership said in March. Amid the pressure and threats, UK Parliament Member Liam Fox urged British companies to seize investment opportunities in the region . Speaking to Morocco's official news agency, MAP, on the sidelines of the Innovation Zero World energy conference in London in April, Fox said: 'British companies looking for partnerships should take a closer look at what Morocco has to offer, particularly in the Kingdom's southern provinces.' In March, the UK government also made it clear that UK businesses are free to operate in Morocco's southern provinces, reaffirming that companies can make their own decisions on trade and investment in the region. This came as another blow to the separatist group from the UK government. For context, it came two years after a significant court verdict from the London Court of Appeals, which rejected the appeal request of pro-Polisario NGO WSC against the Morocco-UK Association Agreement in 2023. The lawsuit aimed to convince the British court to re-examine the trade agreement between the UK and Morocco to challenge Moroccan territorial integrity. Tags: algeria western saharaUK and Morocco
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
British FM's Potential Visit to Morocco Could Be Game Changer on Western Sahara
Rabat – A potential and still unconfirmed visit by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to Morocco is sparking serious talk over a possible shift in London's traditional position on the Western Sahara dispute. A source close to the dossier told Morocco World News (MWN) that the UK official could soon make an official stop in Morocco, where he will hold talks with senior officials. The visit could potentially include a major announcement, which could cover a revision of the UK's long-standing stance on the dispute. For years, the UK has clung to a traditional and very cautious position on the dispute, limiting this stance to its support for Morocco's efforts within the framework of the UN-led political process. But this position stops short of explicitly endorsing any particular solution, including the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, which has received clear and resounding support from over 113 countries in the past few years. While London acknowledges Morocco's engagement and efforts in the political process over Western Sahara, its position remains ambiguous and in stark contrast with Rabat's new policy and approach over its interests. In September 2022, King Mohammed VI set a clear vision for the future of the Sahara, both diplomatically and economically. In his historic speech, the monarch stressed that Western Sahara is the lens through which Morocco views its relations and cooperation with other countries. Morocco will enter into no agreement or partnership with any country that undermines its most important cause by challenging or casting doubt on its territorial integrity, the King stressed. 'I therefore expect certain states among Morocco's traditional partners as well as new ones, whose stances concerning the Moroccanness of the Sahara are ambiguous, to clarify their positions and reconsider them in a manner that leaves no room for doubt,' he said. David Lammy has recently acknowledged that the current UK government's position on Western Sahara remains the same as that of the previous governments. However, he stressed that the Sahara dossier is under review 'as we continue to discuss these issues in the region.' He made these comments during a parliamentary session in April, prompting speculation and signaling a potential change in the UK's traditional stance. Like many countries, such as the US, France, and Spain, the UK is well aware of what the Sahara dossier means to Morocco. This has been evident in the ongoing appeals and growing pressure from within the British establishment. Over the years, dozens of UK parliamentarians have repeatedly called on their respective governments to align with key allies by recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces. Last year, over 30 MPs and Peers penned a letter to the former UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Cameron, urging the timely recognition of Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the most viable solution to the dispute. 'Morocco stands paramount among these partner nations, it is a top strategic ally in North Africa, with shared values and perspectives crucial to both our countries,' they emphasized. The letter also warned against separatism or division, emphasizing the importance of reinforcing or boosting bilateral relations with a key ally like Morocco. 'The dangerous escalations and catastrophic effects of conflict in the Middle East have intensified the spread of terrorism and extremism, providing an opportunity for hostile militias to broaden their ideological reach and influence beyond their own borders,' the letter reads . It also emphasized the economic and geopolitical potential of the Western Sahara region, including the development of infrastructure in Morocco's southern provinces, including the port of Dakhla. The letter described the region as a 'hub for innovation and international cooperation in Africa.' In addition to this letter, several UK politicians individually called on their country to support the ongoing momentum by recognizing Morocco's territorial integrity. Some have even joined international appeals, calling for the designation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist group. Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defense in the UK, has for instance called on his country to label Polisario as a terrorist group. 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation,' Fox wrote on X. Time to make up for previous diplomatic mistakes Britain significantly contributed to colonial dynamics in Morocco in the early 20th century, particularly during the period surrounding the 1906 Algeciras Conference . After wielding unrivaled political and economic influence over Morocco in the late 19th century, the UK renounced its economic interests in Morocco by signing the Algeciras Act alongside other European powers. This act allowed France to establish control over Morocco, with the main goal of guaranteeing equal economic rights for all signatories. France, of course, dominated Morocco's economy. This means that the UK had a hand in facilitating France's dominance over Morocco, its economy, and political affairs. In closely aligning with Paris, the UK contributed to dismissing the North African country's independence aspirations, and safeguarding imperial integrity through diplomatic maneuvers. The Algeciras conference ultimately resulted in a European agreement that divided interests and influence within Morocco, leading to its subjugation under French and Spanish colonization. Well before the conference, France signed a treaty with Britain in 1904. In that accord, Paris renounced its ambitions in Egypt in favor of London. In exchange, France received the UK's support for its right to occupy Morocco. A third treaty also came the same year between France and Spain, confirming Spain's right to occupy northern Morocco in exchange for supporting France's expansion into the rest of Moroccan territory. As many Western countries rush to embrace Morocco's Autonomy Plan, observers have suggested that the UK is facing a now or never dilemma when it comes to making up for its historical mistakes in Morocco. With France and the US having taken the bold decision of recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara , many in Rabat and Rabat hope to see the UK follow in their footsteps in the coming weeks. Business interest Beyond political interests, many countries decided to reinforce ties with Morocco as the country continues to position itself as a leader in several areas, including security, migration management, agriculture, and renewable energy. With Morocco scheduled to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, the country has also become a target of business interests for governments and businesses. Earlier this month, UK Minister of State for Investment Baroness Gustafsson answered an MP's question on the country's potential cooperation, reinforcing trade ties with Morocco. Gustafsson said that the Department for Business and Trade is 'committed to helping UK businesses export to Morocco.' This effort aligns with the UK-Morocco Association Agreement the two countries signed in 2019 post-Brexit, he suggested. 'Bilateral trade was worth £4.2 billion in 2024, up £0.6 billion in current prices from 2023,' the minister stated, stressing the importance of Morocco as a co-host of the World Cup. In a recent interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Chief Executive Officer of UK Export Finance (UKEF) Tim Reid also expressed his country's determination to explore the World Cup as an opportunity for deepening British investments in Morocco. 'In Morocco, we are focusing on World Cup-related projects as we are keen to be part of this exciting adventure,' he said, noting the agency's £5 billion commitment to Moroccan projects. The goal of such a move would be to contribute to positioning the North African country as a strategic launching point for British commercial interests throughout Africa, Reid argued. Many British companies have also been operating in Morocco, particularly in the renewable energy sector, with companies like Sound Energy seeing Morocco as a promising hub in the sector. Of course, such enthusiastic expression of interest is bound to be met by frustration from the separatist Polisario Front and Algeria, which continues to maneuver against Morocco's territorial integrity by advocating and threatening companies not to invest in southern provinces. In March, the Polisario Front explicitly turned to its terrorist tactics by targeting foreign businesses that are operating in Morocco's southern provinces or seeking a presence in the region. 'Let the Sahrawi stay away from foreigners and not come telling us they're civilians or innocent. This is not a tourism context, but a wartime context,' a member of the Polisario Front leadership said in March. Amid the pressure and threats, UK Parliament Member Liam Fox urged British companies to seize investment opportunities in the region . Speaking to Morocco's official news agency, MAP, on the sidelines of the Innovation Zero World energy conference in London in April, Fox said: 'British companies looking for partnerships should take a closer look at what Morocco has to offer, particularly in the Kingdom's southern provinces.' In March, the UK government also made it clear that UK businesses are free to operate in Morocco's southern provinces, reaffirming that companies can make their own decisions on trade and investment in the region. This came as another blow to the separatist group from the UK government. For context, it came two years after a significant court verdict from the London Court of Appeals, which rejected the appeal request of pro-Polisario NGO WSC against the Morocco-UK Association Agreement in 2023. The lawsuit aimed to convince the British court to re-examine the trade agreement between the UK and Morocco to challenge Moroccan territorial integrity. Tags: algeria western saharaUK and Morocco
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
El Salvador Could Open Consulate in Morocco's Laayoune
Rabat – In addition to its unwavering support for the Autonomy Plan as a good basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara, El Salvador is discussing with Rabat the possibility of opening a consulate general in the city of Laayoune. On Monday, Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa reiterated his country's support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative during a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart in Quito, Ecuador, where the Moroccan official represented King Mohammed VI at the inauguration ceremony of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. During the meeting, the two officials discussed the 'possibility of opening a consulate' in El Salvador in the Moroccan southern city. The move is seen as a 'key step' in recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. The two countries also reviewed bilateral ties, reaffirming their commitment to boosting diplomatic and bilateral cooperation and ties. In 2019, El Salvador withdrew its recognition of the self-styled SADR, announcing support for Morocco's territorial integrity. Breaking all contact with the separatist group, the country has also been reiterating its unwavering and steadfast support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara. In February this year, the vice president of El Salvador made a similar statement, stressing that this country strengthened cooperation relations with Morocco from 2019. Ties were 'further solidified with the opening of the embassy in Rabat in 2022. These steps have marked an important phase in El Salvador's foreign policy,' he said, noting that similar levels of ties is a renewal of the country's commitment to supporting Morocco's sovereignty over all of its territory, including it's provinces in the Sahara. Laayoune and Dakhla as hubs of support El Salvador will join at least 30 countries from different regions across the world, which have decided to open consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla to reflect their unwavering support for Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces. Dakhla hosts consulate representatives from several countries, including Haiti, Suriname, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Djibouti, and Burkina Faso. The region also hosts the representative of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. As for Laayoune, the region hosts Jordanian representative, as well as consulates of Bahrain, UAE, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Comores, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, and Cote d'Ivoire. The growing momentum supporting Morocco's territorial integrity also reflects an international shift in understanding the dispute – particularly among countries that were previously uncertain or hesitant to join the trend. Some countries were puzzled by the dispute due to Algeria's lobbying attempts and maneuvers, portraying the separatist group as a victim of colonization through its diplomatic maneuvers and lobbying despite clear legal and historical evidence affirming that the region has always been an integral part of Morocco. Breaking Algeria's deep-rooted support for separatism Recent developments, including international calls, have exposed Algeria's deep-rooted support for separatism and interference in the domestic affairs of other countries. Notably, many politicians have been calling on their countries to designate the Polisario Front not just as a separatist group but a terrorist organization due to its ties to Sahel-based drug traffickers and its terrorist acts against Morocco. The clear vision is contributing to breaking long-held stereotypes, encouraging many other countries to reconsider their positions. A notable example is Kenya, which has recently joined a group of 113 countries that view Morocco s Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution. 'The Republic of Kenya considers the autonomy plan as the only sustainable approach for resolving the Sahara issue and intends to cooperate with like-minded states to promote its implementation,' a joint statement said on Monday. The statement came following talks between Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and Kenya's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi. Kenya had been a steadfast supporter of the Polisario Front. But in 2022, President Ruto signaled that his country would no longer recognize SADR. The announcement was soon deleted from X, where the President announced the news, but the message is still clear about the shift. Read Also: Western Sahara: Has Moroccan Diplomacy Really Failed in Kenya? Moroccan political observers have predicted Kenya's upcoming support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan, including Moroccan foreign policy expert Samir Bennis. In a statement on X, Bennis stressed that this prediction has grown further when Kenya abstained from voting on UN Security Council Resolution 2654 of October 2022. 'Today, Kenya has officially declared that Morocco's autonomy initiative represents the 'only sustainable approach' to resolving the Western Sahara dispute,' Bennis wrote, noting that this development represents a resounding blow to Algeria's military regime. For the analyst, the announcement marks a turning point in the diplomatic landscape surrounding the dispute, as it also reflects the total collapse and failure of the separatist agenda run and sponsored by Algeria. Even before Kenya explicitly expressed support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, the country signaled that it was leaning toward a change. 'With Kenya joining the growing list of countries backing Morocco's position, our country is closer than ever to turning this page for good,' the analyst added. Following Ruto's inauguration as president, officials from Kenya signaled potential stronger ties with Rabat. Algeria's regime, however, continued its maneuvers to maintain its influence. Observers, however, have long seen Kenya's new position coming as the country has been looking for credible partners that would support its ambitions in areas like agriculture and security. Tags: Algeria and Western SaharaMorocco
Morocco World
11-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Western Sahara: France's AFD to Invest €150 Million in Morocco's Southern Provinces
Rabat — France is committed to supporting Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. France displayed this commitment through the latest announcement from the French Development Agency (AFD), which is planning to make major investments of €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces. The agency's Director General, Remy Rioux, announced the news from Laayoune during his visit to the region as part of the flurry of visits by French official delegations carried out since the country's newfound historic recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. 'The AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,' Rioux told the press, noting that he is 'very impressed' by the investments and the quality of infrastructure that the region witnessed recently. He said this contributed to job creation to meet the expectations of youth in the region. The director also welcomed the presence of private companies and the establishment of industrial zones in the region, adding that AFD's investment in Laayoune Sakia El Hamra serves as a signal to encourage more economic stakeholders. France announced its recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in July of last year in a letter Emmanuel Macron directed to King Mohammed VI. In the message, Macron informed the monarch that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within Morocco's sovereignty over its southern region. He also highlighted the importance of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only feasible political solution to end the dispute. The letter was followed by a State visit by Macron in October of the same year, in which he publicly announced the European country's decision in the Moroccan parliament, noting that France's decision is hostile to nobody. His remarks came in response to Algeria's regime maneuvers and attempts lobbying against France's newfound position, as Algiers has been challenging Morocco's territorial integrity for years by harboring the Polisario Front and financing its hostile terrorist acts against Rabat and interfering in its domestic affairs. Since Macron visited Morocco, official delegations have visited the North African country, especially visiting the southern region for the first time in their capacity as French officials. The delegations that visited southern provinces included Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier, among several others. The latest historic decision France took also includes expanding its consular services to Morocco's southern provinces, particularly to residents of Laayoune, Dakhla, and Es-Semara. This means that for the first time, residents of the region will be able to apply for French visas directly from their city. France confirmed the expansion of its visa services to the region during the official inauguration of a new TLS visa center, which handles consular applications, in Casablanca in April. Tags: AFD in MoroccoAfDB €117 million loan to Morocco
Morocco World
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
US Unequivocally Commits to Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara
Rabat — United States Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, reaffirmed his country's support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in an exclusive interview with Medi1 TV and Radio on April 19. Boulos emphasized that the US's position on the matter is 'clear and unequivocal,' stressing support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a lasting, 'serious, credible, and realistic' solution to the dispute. The Lebanese-born politician and businessman referenced the US Secretary of State's recent reaffirmation of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern regions, as well as President Trump's statement to King Mohammed VI in 2020. 'Any other information circulating on this subject is simply a misinterpretation. The United States' position is clear. The United States confirms and recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara,' he reiterated, declaring any conflicting statements 'taken out of context' as null. Last week, during a meeting in Washington with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed America's support for Morocco's 2007 autonomy plan as the exclusive framework to resolve the Western Sahara conflict, urging all parties to begin negotiations without delay. Trump had initially recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020. The 2007 Moroccan Autonomy Plan is a proposal to resolve the dispute, which has persisted since 1975, by granting limited self-rule to the Sahrawi people while maintaining Moroccan sovereignty. The plan would make Western Sahara an autonomous region with its own parliament, executive bodies, and judiciary, responsible for managing local affairs like economic development, education, infrastructure, and cultural matters while Morocco would retain control over defense, foreign policy, and religious authority. The US reaffirmation joins the chorus and momentum of international support towards Morocco's Sahara cause, which continues to gain recognition as the most credible and realistic solution to the dispute.
