Morocco-Israel Diplomatic Ties: Trump’s Legacy, Biden’s Opportunity

"Despite all its importance, the announcement on December 10 by the Kingdom of Morocco to normalize its relations with Israel can hardly be considered a surprise. Contacts between the two countries have spanned decades, and Rabat and Jerusalem have long boasted of a dynamic (albeit informal) partnership built around cultural ties, commercial ties and political alignment. A public affirmation of this existing reality was not really a question of if, but when," he writes.

Even so, the start of official contacts between the two countries is, according to Mr. Berman, a major development, and reinforces what has appeared to be the signal of the success of the outgoing administration’s foreign policy. He pointed out that the White House has diligently worked over the past four years to advance its vision of a more integrated and economically prosperous Middle East. The result: since this summer, the wave of "normalization" fueled by the Trump administration has led to no less than four distinct agreements between Israel and Arab countries (with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco), as well as other agreements and diplomatic breakthroughs with Serbia, Kosovo and Bhutan.

According to the American official, the Morocco-Israel agreement should also be considered a boon for the new Biden administration, for at least two reasons. The first: it is a timely reminder of a regional context that has profoundly changed over the past half-decade. "The historically turbulent Middle East is now more economically integrated and politically moderate than at any time in recent memory. The Biden administration will inherit this benevolent trend and, with the right diplomacy, can build on it to further promote regional prosperity and stability in the years to come," he says.

"Secondly, it positions the United States’ long-time ally, Morocco, to play a more significant role in North African security," he observes. According to Mr. Berman, Morocco’s strategic positioning on the continent, located near geopolitical hotspots like Mali and Nigeria, makes it a natural candidate for such a role. Now, American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara followed by normalization with Israel will allow the kingdom to play a more significant role in regional security. He is convinced that Morocco has the means necessary to fully play this role.