Former French Minister: Morocco Strategically Leveraged US-Israel Deal for Sahara Recognition

"The Moroccans have been smart in taking advantage of the period between Trump and Biden and making a gesture towards Israel, which is not a revolution either since Morocco had had relations with Israel before they were suspended, while recalling the rights of the Palestinians. That’s why it was well played," said Hubert Védrine in an interview with the website Le Desk. According to him, the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara does not, however, encourage European countries to follow in the footsteps of the United States, because "each European country considers that it is a subject and none of them think they have an interest in clarifying their position".

Addressing the European Parliament resolution adopted against Morocco, condemning it to put an end to its pressure on Spain, Hubert Védrine observed that most of the MEPs who voted know nothing about the subject. According to him, they acted out of solidarity with the northern neighbor on principle. However, he raises another problem. "(...) Is Morocco doing the best it can to make its positions known?", wonders Hubert Védrine. "I love Morocco, as everyone knows, but I find that the Moroccan positions are not well known, not well explained". "What is the content of the famous autonomy? This is not known, even for a European parliamentarian not particularly hostile to Morocco," he added.

On the issue of migration flows, "Morocco is mainly a transit country, even if it remains relatively a country of departure, but this is not explained. I’m not saying Spain is right. Spain has worked well on its file and solidarity has played a role. Add to that the fact that the European Parliament is not a place of rationality," analyzes the former Secretary General of the Élysée.