It is this Tuesday, November 5, that the American presidential election pitting the Democratic Party, represented by Kamala Harris, against the Republicans, in the person of Donald Trump, takes place. American voters will decide between the two candidates who have just concluded an intense electoral campaign.
What should we expect in Morocco if one or the other is elected?
For Mohammed Zakaria Aboudahab, professor of public law and political science at Mohammed V University in Rabat, the Morocco-USA relationship, State-to-State relationship in the first place, is intended to be profound regardless of colors or political parties. Tactics and modus operandi may change, but the basics will remain the sameestimates the professor of political science.
Morocco-USA, a state-to-state relationship regardless of the elected profile
“We must first start by saying that for us, the Morocco-United States relationship remains a State-to-State relationship, therefore regardless of who is elected. If Trump returns to power, he will have several complex issues to deal with. manage (situation in the Middle East, Russo-Ukrainian conflict, relationship with NATO and the European Union…). Regarding Morocco, I suppose that D. Trump will ensure that, first of all, Iran is neutralized at the level of the Middle East and that it no longer interferes in matters related to the question of Palestine. In reality, Iran has bypassed the Abraham Accords of which Morocco is a part.
With the return of Trump, we can also expect a consolidation and concretization of American recognition of the Moroccan character of the Sahara, in particular through the opening of the American consulate in Dakhla, already inaugurated.
“I believe that this will be a key point in Trump’s Middle East and North African foreign policy. So we can expect attempts, at least after a year, if not more, to resume these agreements and encourage countries already signatories, including Morocco, but also others such as Saudi Arabia, to integrate them.
“With the return of Trump, we can also expect a consolidation and concretization of American recognition of the Moroccan character of the Sahara, notably through the operationalization of the American consulate in Dakhla, already inaugurated. A possible meeting between His Majesty the King and Trump could thus be considered“.
“The most important thing too is that the United States will work under Donald Trump, within the Security Councilto accelerate a solution within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, supporting the Moroccan autonomy plan. Trump is already experienced. He knows the administration (the White House, the Pentagon, etc.) well. Now we also have to discover the team (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and others) who will work with him.”
Morocco maintains good relations with both camps
“For the second scenario, in the event of the election of Kamala Harris, we know that her predecessor, Joe Biden, has not changed his position regarding the Sahara. Personally, I see Kamala Harris’s foreign policy with Morocco in continuation of that of Biden“.
“Whether with the Republicans or the Democrats, Morocco has very good relations. And these relations are due to its moderate positions and the historic partnership with the United States. We believe that Kamala Harris, too, will need Morocco’s support to shape her Middle East policy and contribute to the pacification of this region. However, the King, president of the Al Quds Committee, has his say and his influence within the Arab League,” concludes Mohammed Zakaria Aboudahab.
In the same vein, our consultant and diplomatic analyst, Ahmed Faouzi, recalls that Morocco has always been able to find a subtle balance in its relations, whether with the Democrats or with the Republicans. It will depend on the Kingdom, regardless of who is elected, to assert its strengths and highlight them, believes Ahmed Faouzi.
Whether it’s Kamala or Trump, what matters for America’s next team is what we put in the basket
“Regarding foreign policy towards Morocco, everything seems to indicate that the Democrats, who have not changed the American position on the Sahara during this mandate, won’t do it if Kamala is elected president. During these four years in power, the Democrats have safeguarded the essential with the Kingdom, namely maintaining the position taken by the Republican Trump at the end of his mandate where he recognized the territorial integrity of Morocco”, underlines the former ambassador.
“The recent decision of the American representative to the Security Council rejecting Algeria’s amendments is further proof that only the option of autonomy is the only one possible in the eyes of the Americans and in the eyes of the international community. Algeria alone will take full responsibility in the event of a blockage.”
“Morocco has always known how to find a subtle balance in his relations with the Democrats as well as with the Kennedys and the Clintons or with the Republicans. Whether with Kamala or Trump, what will matter to the next American team is what we put in the basket. Our advantage is summed up in the geostrategic place occupied by the Kingdom as a balancing force for peace and security in the Mediterranean as well as in Africa. It will be up to us to highlight our strengths and highlight them in particular, our major projects for Atlantic Africa, the opening up of the Sahel countries or the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline for example. It is therefore at our level that the challenge lies that will push the Americans to invest more in the development of our country and the entire region,” concludes our diplomatic analyst.
The two candidates are practically neck and neck
The two candidates being neck and neck, it is still early to make an immediate reading of the American elections and its implications for Morocco, believes political analyst Driss Aissaoui. You have to wait the elections of the major voters planned for December to see how the situation will evolve, estimates our interlocutor.
We have only one concrete result. It is that of Trump who had already recognized the Moroccan nature of the Sahara.
“The American elections pitting Kamala Harris against Donald Trump do not provide very particular visibility. The two candidates are practically neck and neck. It is difficult to make an immediate reading on the possible fallout of the results on Morocco. We have only one concrete result. It is that of Trump who had already recognized the Moroccan nature of the Sahara and who had given a boost to the entire international community. After him, many countries rushed to open consulates or to recognize the Moroccan nature of the Sahara. It remains to be seen whether Kamala Harris, who is from the opposite party (Democrat), will take the same steps.
“Currently, Americans of Arab origin are supporters of Trump. The latter is less harmful than the current president of the United States who supported the Zionists in their war against the Palestinians, by mobilizing weapons and means. He However, we must take into account the fact that the results of this Tuesday, November 5 will not be final since there are elections for the electors and which will only take place during the month of December. We must therefore wait to see how the results will evolve.“, concludes Driss Aissaoui.
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