US reiterates recognition of Moroccan sovereignty in response to Israel

The resumption of relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv has been hailed by the US as a significant step forward and an "unequivocal positive" for the MENA region. The US applauded Israel's decision to recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

A day after the Israeli government declared that it recognised Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller made the comments. In a formal statement, the Moroccan royal cabinet announced Israel's choice and added that the Israeli government was also considering establishing a consulate in the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla to further demonstrate its support for Morocco's territorial integrity.

"I would simply say that, overall, the resumption of relations between Morocco and Israel has been unequivocally positive for the region, and we look forward to working with these close American partners to further expand the circle of peace," Miller said, stressing that he had no further comment on the new Israeli position. Miller cited Washington's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in December 2020 in response to the US position on the Western Sahara conflict.

"I would say the policy has not changed since it was announced in December 2020. The personal envoy of the UN (United Nations) Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, has our full support as he intensifies his efforts to find a just and lasting political solution for Western Sahara," he added.

The statement is a setback for Polisario supporters such as the Algerian regime, who have been pressuring Biden to undo Trump's announced recognition since 2020. On 10 December 2020, former US President Donald Trump officially endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the only basis for a just and lasting resolution of the territorial dispute by recognising Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The statement affirms that the only solution to the conflict is "genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty", adding that "the United States believes that an independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict". In August last year, King Mohammed VI praised the US stance in favour of Morocco's territorial integrity, hailing it as a cornerstone for closer ties between Rabat and Washington.

Violence in the West Bank has escalated and Morocco last month postponed a meeting between Israel and its Arab allies. The meeting was scheduled for this summer. When the meeting was initially scheduled, Bourita expressed his desire for it to take place at a later date when circumstances are more "favourable".

Rabat and Jerusalem are still trying to fully consolidate their relationship despite announcing that their ties would resume in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. As part of that agreement, brokered by the Trump administration, the US recognised Morocco's unilateral annexation of Western Sahara. In defending US recognition of the disputed territory, the Biden administration has defied pressure.

The withdrawal of Spanish colonial power from the Western Sahara region in 1975 triggered a 15-year war between Morocco and the Polisario Front movement seeking independence for the region. Western Sahara, abundant in phosphate and fisheries, is almost entirely governed by Rabat and is considered sovereign territory of Rabat.

While the Polisario wants independence and has called for a UN-supervised referendum on self-determination, which never took place, Rabat favours limited autonomy for the vast desert region. When Netanyahu accepted an invitation to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai in May, it was his first trip to the UAE.

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra