In recent months, the United States has signaled a shift towards bolstering its relationship with Morocco, both economically and diplomatically. This trend has been particularly evident since 2020, when the U. S.
Endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of relations with Israel. Now, Washington seems poised to support Morocco’s claims over the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
The International Crisis Group’s (ICG) North Africa project director, Riccardo Fabiani, has discussed the U. S. ‘s increasing support for Morocco in the region.
This support has been evident during the Ceuta crisis, where Spain faced a divided European Union and pressure to surrender its North African enclaves following a sudden influx of 50,000 migrants into Ceuta. Last week, King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced that a new expressway connecting Tiznit in southern Morocco and Dakhla in Western Sahara would be named the Donald J. Trump Highway.
This move is seen as part of Morocco’s strategy to win over the Trump administration and ensure continued U. S. Backing during negotiations over the Western Sahara conflict.
Despite securing U. S. Support in 2020, Fabiani cautions that the Trump administration is not always consistent.
Morocco, therefore, is pursuing a strategy of sending signals and offering small concessions to maintain American support throughout delicate negotiations.
In late July, the U. S. Ambassador to Morocco traveled to Laayoune, the heart of Western Sahara, to sign an agreement awarding a U.
S. Grant for the creation of a hydrogen and ammonia production facility. This initiative is in line with the Trump administration’s focus on economic deals benefiting American companies.
Two U. S. Lawmakers have introduced a bill to consider designating the Polisario Front, the political and military group advocating for self-rule in Western Sahara, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The ICG believes Morocco views this as a “now or never “opportunity to exclude the Polisario Front from future talks and resolve the conflict in its favor.
Additionally, Morocco is leveraging the anti — Iranian sentiment in the U. S. To bolster its position on Western Sahara.
However, Fabiani emphasizes that there is no evidence linking the Polisario Front to Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon.
As the situation unfolds, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has visited Algiers, the primary backer of the Polisario Front, expressing a desire to deepen ties, particularly in energy deals. Despite potential tensions, Fabiani argues that the normalization of diplomatic relations between Spain and Algeria does not threaten Moroccan interests, as Spain continues to support the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: rfi
Source: RFI
