UK Backs Morocco’s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan as ’Credible Basis’ for Talks

On Sunday, David Lammy reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s support for the UN process. He emphasized that the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco for Western Sahara constitutes "a serious and credible basis for the resumption of substantial negotiations between the parties." "We encourage all parties to engage within the UN framework. The United Kingdom supports the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and will actively engage, at regional and international levels, to contribute to a political solution under the auspices of the United Nations," assured the British foreign minister. He also welcomed "Morocco’s willingness to engage positively within the framework of its autonomy initiative and to enter into a reasonable negotiation process with all concerned parties."

By supporting the autonomy plan, the United Kingdom de facto recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. London’s change of position comes after Morocco has received broad international support in recent years. In December 2020, the United States, through President Donald Trump, recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel. In March 2022, Spain followed in the footsteps of the United States. "Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute," stated Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister.

At the end of July 2024, France officially recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, ending two years of diplomatic crisis between the two countries. In a message addressed to King Mohammed VI, French President Emmanuel Macron assured the Moroccan sovereign of "the intangibility of the French position on this issue of national security for the kingdom." He added: France "intends to act in accordance with this position at the national level and internationally."