Morocco Anticipates Renewed U.S. Support for Western Sahara Claims as Trump Wins

Donald Trump’s victory in the November 5 presidential election marks a turning point in relations between Morocco and the United States. The newly elected president had announced on Twitter (now X) in December 2020 that he had "signed a proclamation recognizing Moroccan sovereignty" over the Western Sahara. A "historic" decision, declared King Mohammed VI, expressing his "deep gratitude" to the American president.

After the announcement of Trump’s re-election, the Sovereign Moroccan was among the first foreign heads of state to congratulate him. "Moroccans are celebrating the return of Donald Trump" to power, analyzes for Les Échos Antoine Basbous, director of the Observatory of Arab Countries, estimating that once installed in his functions, Trump will be able to complete his project of opening an American consulate in Dakhla, which remained a dead letter under the presidency of his successor, Joe Biden.

The new American president had also promised $3 billion in investments in Morocco, with the bulk dedicated to banks, hotels and the kingdom’s renewable energy sector. The Moroccan authorities hope that this financial support will become a reality, after four years of the Biden parenthesis. If Trump realizes everything he had promised, the Moroccans "will be indebted to him for a great debt," develops Basbous, noting that the Sahara issue is a priority for the Moroccan authorities. It "conditions everything."

And to add: "American interests will be served, as a thank you." Donald Trump’s other priority upon arriving at the White House will be to revive the Abraham Accords signed in September 2020 in Washington, which had led to the normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab countries, including Morocco.