Pompeo Defends US Shift on Western Sahara, Citing Peace Efforts

"For decades, US administrations have failed to resolve the conflict between Morocco and Western Sahara," he noted in a message posted on his Twitter account. According to him, this "failure" is explained by the fact that previous administrations "did not want to take risks".

"We took it (this risk: editor’s note), in the interest of peace," explained the US official, who says he is proud to have contributed to this endeavor.

Mr. Pompeo’s remarks tend to contradict those disseminated in public opinion according to which the US recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara was negotiated in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel.