On December 10, 2020, American President Donald Trump recognized the Moroccan nature of the Sahara. In the wake of his new election as tenant of the White House in 2024, it is a new consecration and a reaffirmation of this position of the leading world power.
The proclamation of the American president was part of a sovereign decision with unshakeable legal and institutional force, regardless of the political leaning of the occupant of the White House, and this shortly before the election of the Democrat Joe Biden.
Despite the change of president over the last 4 years, American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara has remained unchanged, and this testifies to the strength of Donald Trump’s decision.
“The United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara.” The document signing the presidential proclamation was entered in the federal register and an official document from the United States was transmitted to the UN Security Council, the executive body of the United Nations that deals with the question of the Sahara, giving this recognition of all its legal stamp and international force.
“The United States believes that an independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict and that true autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only possible solution,” adds the presidential decree.
This historic decision by the highest authority of the American Executive “gave a new qualitative boost to the virtuous and sustained dynamic consecrating the Moroccan character of the Sahara”, then noted a joint statement from a US-Israeli delegation led by US President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor, Jared Kushner, and Israel’s National Security Advisor, Meier Ben Shabbat, in Rabat.
“On December 4, President Trump signed a presidential proclamation, with all that this solemn act entails as undeniable legal and political force and with immediate effect, relating to the decision of the United States of America to recognize, for the first time in their history, the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the entire region of the Moroccan Sahara”, underlines the statement.
Since then, the United States and Morocco have consolidated their historically strong relations through this recognition which has encouraged other great powers to in turn recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, such as France, Spain, Israel, or even Germany, all countries which have expressed their support for Morocco’s position in this regional conflict which pits it against Algeria.
While Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election is fast approaching, the reiteration of this position in favor of the Moroccan character of the Sahara should be even stronger and more direct, as evidenced by the style of the American billionaire known for don’t mince words.
His election definitely bodes well for Morocco, which should see this recognition materialize. This should notably involve the start-up of the American Consulate in Dakhla and could go further, notably with a possible state visit by President Trump to Morocco but above all the implementation of the tripartite declaration linking the United States, Israel and Morocco, within the framework of the Abraham Accords.
Beyond that, the re-election of Donald Trump should further anchor the strategic partnership between Morocco and the United States on several levels, notably security and diplomatic. Morocco should see its position as a leading actor against extremism in Africa strengthened thanks to American support.
Under the Trump administration and presidency, one could expect, in addition to a further improvement in relations between Morocco and the United States, an additional boost in favor of the definitive settlement of the Sahara question before the United Nations.
