UK Maintains Neutral Stance on Western Sahara Status, Diverging from US Position

Responding to a question from Labor MP Kim Johnson, the Minister of State declares: "as specified in the article of the agreement relating to the territorial aspect, the UK-Morocco association agreement applies in the same way as the agreements linking the European Union to Morocco."

"The application of certain parts of the UK/Morocco association agreement to some products originating in Western Sahara, in accordance with the European Court of Justice ruling on this issue, does not affect our position on the status of Western Sahara, which we consider to be undetermined," added Mr. James Cleverly. In other words, the United Kingdom is not about to follow the example of the United States, which has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.