Trump reaffirms US support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara

The President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump, reiterated his recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and reaffirmed American support for the Moroccan proposal for autonomy as the only basis for resolving the dispute.

The position is contained in a message sent to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 27th anniversary celebrations of Throne Day, according to a statement released this Saturday by the Royal Office of Morocco.

In the message, Trump states that "the United States is clear: we recognize Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and support the serious, credible, and realistic proposal for Moroccan autonomy as the only basis for a just and lasting solution."

The US head of state also believes that "any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable," adding that Washington will continue to promote efforts to reach a definitive solution to the dispute.

In addition to the Sahara issue, Trump highlighted Morocco's role in regional stability, praising the leadership of King Mohammed VI and the country's commitment to peace, combating extremism, and cooperation on security matters.

According to the message, the United States intends to strengthen cooperation with Morocco on regional security, including in the Sahel region, considered one of the areas most affected by the expansion of extremist groups in Africa.

On the economic front, the US President announced that he has instructed his administration to deepen cooperation with Morocco, including in the Sahara region, in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defense.

Trump also marked the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence, highlighting the long relationship between Washington and Rabat, which he described as a partnership built on trust and mutual respect.

The reaffirmation of the American position constitutes a further strengthening of US diplomatic support for the Moroccan proposal for autonomy, considered by Rabat as the solution to the dispute over the Sahara.

The territory remains the subject of dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which advocates for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people through a referendum, a process monitored by the United Nations for several decades.

Washington's new declaration could have implications for the diplomatic balance in the Maghreb and North Africa, at a time when Morocco is seeking to consolidate international support for its autonomy proposal.