While some countries fear the return of Donald Trump to the White House, others, like Morocco, welcome the election of the new president of the United States who recognized the Moroccan nature of the Sahara in December 2020, at the end of his first term, and announced the opening of an American consulate in Dakhla.
Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election on November 5 marks a turning point in relations between Morocco and the United States. The new elected president announced on Twitter (now X) in December 2020 that he had “signed a proclamation recognizing Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara. A “historic” decision, declared King Mohammed VI, showing his “deep gratitude” to the American president.
After the announcement of Trump’s re-election, the Moroccan Sovereign was one of the first foreign heads of state to send him their congratulations. “Moroccans are celebrating with the return of Donald Trump” to business, analysis for The EchoesAntoine Basbous, director of the Arab Countries Observatory, believes that once installed in office, Trump will be able to complete his project to open an American consulate in Dakhla, which remained a dead letter under the presidency of his successor, Joe Biden.
Read: Donald Trump back: towards a new milestone in Moroccan-American relations?
The new American president had also promised $3 billion in investments in Morocco, the majority of which would be dedicated to banks, hotels and the kingdom’s renewable energy sector. The Moroccan authorities hope that this financial support will become a reality, after four years of Biden parenthesis. If Trump achieves everything he promised, the Moroccans “will owe a great debt to him,” says Basbous, noting that the Sahara issue is a priority for the Moroccan authorities. It “conditions everything”.
And added: “American interests will be served, as a thank you.” Donald Trump’s other priority upon his arrival at the White House will be to relaunch the process of the Abraham Accords signed in September 2020 in Washington, which led to the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries, including Morocco. .
Morocco
