Senior US military officials arrive in Dakhla to inspect its future port

The visit was revealed this Tuesday, September 1, by the US Embassy in Morocco. The American representation specified that a delegation made up of “senior US military officials” from the embassy in Rabat had visited the future Dakhla Atlantique port and taken an interest in the region’s maritime sector.

The wording used by Washington gives this visit particular significance. According to the embassy, the visit made it possible to discuss maritime infrastructure, regional connectivity and economic development, as well as “shared security priorities.” The United States also underscored “the strategic importance” of the region.

The presence of US military officials at this construction site comes as military cooperation between Morocco and the United States has intensified considerably in recent years, with deliveries of new equipment, joint training and the African Lion exercises.

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This visit comes barely more than two weeks after an initial American visit to the same location. On August 15, members of the economic and political sections of the US Embassy had this time discovered Dakhla Atlantique. Washington had then presented the port as a strategic project capable of improving regional connectivity and developing trade and investment.

The shift, now, from an economic and political delegation to a delegation made up of military officials clearly marks an expansion of the subjects in which the Americans are interested around the future port complex.

Dakhla is of increasing interest to Washington

This new visit is part of a succession of American trips to the southern provinces. In June, a delegation from the American mission had notably traveled to Guerguerat, a first for US representatives. The discussions had focused on border security, the fight against drug trafficking and human trafficking, as well as coordination between services.

Dakhla Atlantique occupies a particular place in this system. The future port is intended to enable Morocco to have a major maritime platform on its Atlantic coast and serve as an outlet for trade with West Africa and the Sahel countries. The project is to be accompanied by large-scale industrial and logistics activities.

This maritime dimension had already prompted reflection on the military role Dakhla could play. For several years, Morocco has notably planned to strengthen its naval capabilities in the region, with a project for a large naval base in Dakhla.

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Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Washington has multiplied its signals concerning the southern provinces. The United States continues to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, a position adopted in December 2020, and the US administration now directly encourages economic development and investment in the region.

For the Dakhla Atlantique port, however, the September 1 visit goes a step further. After American diplomats and economic officials, military officials have now come to examine the site and discuss maritime security issues with their Moroccan counterparts.