On the occasion of the first session of the strategic dialogue between Morocco and Germany, the Sahara issue was handled once again by Berlin with an even more assertive position in support of Morocco. Furthermore, Germany has shown a certain interest in the Atlantic Initiative decided by King Mohammed VI.
Morocco and Germany held their first strategic dialogue session this Friday in accordance with the joint declaration adopted on the occasion of the visit to Morocco by the head of German diplomacy Annalena Baerbock, on August 25, 2022.
As a reminder, in 2022, Annalena Baerbock made a visit to Rabat during which she expressed Germany’s position on the subject of the Sahara by considering the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 “as a serious and credible effort by Morocco and as a good basis for an accepted solution” by the parties, as stipulated in a joint statement published following his talks with Nasser Bourita.
The minister had reiterated “Germany’s long-standing support for the United Nations-led process for a realistic, pragmatic, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.”
Likewise, the two ministers agreed, likewise, on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2602, which noted the role and responsibility parties in the search for a realistic, pragmatic, lasting political solution based on compromise.
This year, Berlin’s position on the subject has become even more assertive, in clear support for Morocco and the autonomy plan. Thus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs maintained that the Moroccan plan is “a good basis and a very good foundation for the final settlement” of the conflict around the Moroccan Sahara.
Germany also welcomed the reforms carried out by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, for a more open and dynamic Moroccan society and economy.
In a Joint Declaration adopted at the end of the bilateral talks, Germany also reaffirmed its vision regarding Morocco as an essential partner of the European Union, NATO and Germany in Africa and a link crucial between the North and the South.
Furthermore, Germany “is closely following the initiatives launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI towards the African continent, including that of November 6, 2023 towards the Sahel region” with the aim of facilitating access to the Atlantic Ocean for the countries of the region, indicated the same document, showing its interest in this unprecedented initiative which should open up several countries in the Sahel by offering them an opening onto the Atlantic in particular through the Moroccan ports of the Sahara.
