Estados Unidos respalda nuevamente la propuesta de Marruecos para el Sáhara Occidental como un plan “serio, creíble y realista”
Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, received Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Washington, and both diplomatic representatives of the American giant and the Moroccan kingdom demonstrated the solidity of the bond existing between the two nations. The aim of the meeting was to further strengthen the Moroccan-US relationship and to discuss and analyse matters of common interest, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
Antony Blinken stressed Morocco's important role in guaranteeing stability and defending security in North Africa and in conflict areas of Africa hit by instability and terrorism, such as the Sahel. The US Secretary of State highlighted 'the long, historic and strong partnership between the United States and Morocco', stressing that the Kingdom 'is an important force for stability, peace, progress and moderation'.
The two diplomats discussed shared concerns about the continuing violence in Israel and the West Bank and ongoing efforts to reduce tensions, the US State Department said in an official statement. The US Secretary of State expressed his "appreciation for King Mohammed VI's leadership and his longstanding contribution to promoting regional stability and peace, including his efforts to promote a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians". Antony Blinken and Nasser Bourita also discussed Russia's war in Ukraine, support for elections in Libya and instability in the Sahel.
أجريت إجتماعاً مثمراً اليوم مع وزير خارجية ناصر بوريطة. ناقشنا شراكتنا الثنائية العميقة القائمة على المصالح المشتركة من أجل السلام والازدهار، بما في ذلك دور المغرب الحاسم في تعزيز الاستقرار في المنطقة.@MarocDiplomatie https://t.co/dukUp2HPXs
— U.S. Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) March 21, 2023
The US Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister also affirmed their full support for the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in "promoting a lasting and dignified political solution" to the Saharawi conflict. Blinken pointed out that the United States continues to view Morocco's Autonomy Plan as "serious, credible and realistic, and as a potential approach to meeting the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara", as the official statement indicated.
In this way, the US representative again highlighted positively the step taken in December 2020 by Morocco to establish relations with Israel in the wake of the Abraham Accords, which involved the establishment of diplomatic ties between prominent Arab countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain with the Israeli state with the aim of pacifying the Middle East region and confronting common enemies identified as responsible for episodes of instability in the area, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran. In exchange for its rapprochement with Israel, Morocco obtained US support for its proposal for Western Sahara, a support that was not revoked by Joe Biden's current US administration. Thus, Antony Blinken praised Morocco's "leadership" in favour of peace and regional stability with the resumption of relations with Israel. "I would point to the leadership that Morocco has shown in working towards normalisation with Israel," Blinken said.
The North African country is proposing a broad autonomy formula for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty in accordance with UN resolutions. This initiative has received the approval of other important countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Spain. Meanwhile, on the other side of the opposition is the Polisario Front, which advocates holding a referendum on independence for the Sahrawi people, which is very difficult to achieve, as several experts have pointed out, and which has less international support, including that of Algeria, Morocco's great political enemy in the Maghreb; In fact, Algeria broke off relations with Morocco in August 2021 after accusing the Moroccan kingdom of alleged 'hostile acts' and interference in internal affairs, all under deep political differences on matters of great importance such as the resolution of the Sahrawi conflict.
M. Nasser Bourita s'est entretenu, aujourd'hui à Washington, avec le Secrétaire d’État américain, M. Antony J. Blinken.@StateDept@SecBlinken @USEmbMorocco@MoroccoinUSA@USAenFrancais pic.twitter.com/ZBhpPnbv9A
— Maroc Diplomatie ?? (@MarocDiplomatie) March 20, 2023
On the other hand, Morocco also plays an important role in regional security through its valuable collaboration. Antony Blinken himself highlighted Morocco's upcoming organisation of the annual joint military exercise "African Lion", which year after year demonstrates the military collaboration between the two countries in order to fight for regional security and stability and to confront jihadist terrorism affecting North Africa and the Sahel. "We have a longstanding, historic and strong partnership with Morocco, which is very important for stability. We are working together in many different areas. Including the upcoming 'African Lion' exercises," Blinken said.
During the meeting in Washington, Nasser Bourita highlighted the "strong and historic friendship" between the two countries, noting that this partnership "has never been stronger than it is today", as reported by Rue20. "His Majesty King Mohammed VI appreciates this partnership, which is based on our common commitments to peace, stability and prosperity," the minister stressed.
The partnership between Rabat and Washington shows great strength, and the US administration of Joe Biden and the Alawite kingdom headed by King Mohammed VI continue to work in this direction. "Our discussions are always productive and constructive," Bourita said, stressing that the partnership between Morocco and the United States contributes to "serving our peoples, as well as peace and stability in the world", as reported by Rue20.
America Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.
