The return of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, made official this Monday, January 20, opens the way to new momentum in relations between Washington and Rabat. With strategic issues such as the consolidation of American recognition of the Moroccan character of the Moroccan Sahara and stability in the Sahel, the Trump administration could adopt a posture even more favorable to Moroccan interests.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House marks a new promising rebound for Morocco. The American recognition of the Kingdom’s sovereignty over the Sahara, formalized in December 2020 under its first mandate, remains a major milestone in bilateral diplomacy. However, expectations persist, such as the opening of the American consulate in Dakhla, a commitment made four years ago but still pending. This dynamic could be revived thanks to the involvement of key figures in the Trump administration, notably Marco Rubio, new Secretary of State, who reaffirmed his support for the Moroccan character of the Sahara and called for sanctions against Algeria for its military ties with Russia.
In addition, and in a context of geopolitical tensions in the Sahel, where Morocco positions itself as a reliable African partner, cooperation between Rabat and Washington is expected to intensify. The Moroccan proposal for maritime access for the landlocked countries of the Sahel via the port of Dakhla illustrates the Kingdom’s ambition to combine economic development and regional stability, an objective that resonates with American strategic priorities. But this rapprochement could also be influenced by commercial challenges, notably the renewal of AGOA in 2025, in a climate marked by Sino-American competition.
Return of Donald Trump to the White House: good news for Morocco
The return of Donald Trump to the White House is good news for Morocco, mainly on the issue of the Sahara, Professor of Strategic Studies at the Defense College (NDC) of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, Mohamed, tells Hespress Fr. Badine El Yattioui. “A positive dynamic is underway. The American consulate in Dakhla is still pending, 4 years later and could finally be set up. Puneet Talwar, ambassador to Rabat since 2022, chose to resign before the inauguration of the new American president. The choice of his successor will be important to analyze”he emphasizes.
Moreover, “Marco Rubio, the new Secretary of State, clearly reaffirmed last week before the Senate, American support for the Moroccan character of the Sahara and we remember his letter to Antony Blinken, in 2022, requesting sanctions, which he may now want to apply, against Algiers for its significant military purchases in Russia, in the name of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”points out Mr. El Yattioui. At the same time, continues the professor of strategic studies, “Republican Representative of South Carolina, Joe Wilson, has described the Polisario as a terrorist organization, which he accuses of wanting to destabilize the region with the complicity of Russia and Iran”.
-“The Polisario constitutes a real threat to the security of the Maghreb and Sahel countries, in a regional context marked by the alliance between armed separatists and terrorists. The shift of terrorist activity towards the Sahel, for many years, represents a source of destabilization for the entire Maghreb. The links between this separatist group and terrorist networks are no longer in doubt and the instability in certain countries in the region favors the disintegration of border controls and the smuggling of weapons. In addition, drug trafficking has experienced an upsurge in the Sahel due to these chaotic situations and the Polisario is not left out in using this business to finance its separatist action.says Mr. El Yattioui.
The United States needs a reliable partner like Morocco to preserve its interests in the Sahel
Still in connection with the Sahel, the professor of strategic studies is of the opinion that “It is important that the United States remains committed to finding concrete solutions to preserve its interests in this region. For this, they need credible and reliable African partners. Morocco is undoubtedly one of them. Additionally, the threats to both countries end up being the same. There is a convergence”.
The United States could also, according to Mr. El Yattioui, support the Initiative launched by King Mohammed VI, offering landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean through the future port of Dakhla. “An initiative to economically develop these countries and move away from the security situation that has prevailed for more than ten years. In addition, it allowed Washington to counter Russian and Chinese, and to a lesser extent Iranian, ambitions in the Sahel..
And also recall that “during his first term, Donald Trump did not make any official trip to Africa”. Trade is an important element of United States-Africa relations, and the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2025 is a real test against the American president’s protectionist project. Indeed, “AGOA allows several African countries to export duty-free to the United States. Trade relations with Africa could be influenced by the “economic war” with China, if Donald Trump asks Africans to choose between the two giants”explains the analyst.
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