President Donald Trump reaffirms U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, declaring Rabat’s autonomy plan the only path to lasting peace — reigniting tensions with Algeria and the Polisario Front.
In a move set to shake the geopolitics of North Africa, U.S. President Donald Trump has reasserted America’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, describing Rabat’s autonomy plan as “serious, credible, and realistic” — and the only viable framework for resolving the decades‑long territorial standoff.
The remarks, delivered in a message to King Mohammed VI and reported by Morocco’s state news agency MAP, mark Trump’s first direct statement on the issue since returning to the White House.
🌍 A Conflict Frozen in Time
The Western Sahara dispute has raged for nearly five decades. Morocco maintains that the mineral‑rich desert region is an integral part of its territory, while the Algerian‑backed Polisario Front insists it should become an independent Sahrawi Republic.
Trump first recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020, as part of a landmark diplomatic trade‑off: Morocco became the fourth Arab nation to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. In 2023, Israel followed suit, cementing Morocco’s claim in the eyes of its allies.
📌 Trump’s Message: Security, Peace & the Abraham Accords
“The United States recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco’s serious, credible and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute,” Trump told King Mohammed VI.
He linked the policy to broader U.S. strategy:
“Together we are advancing shared priorities for peace and security in the region, including building on the Abraham Accords, combating terrorism, and expanding commercial cooperation.”
🔥 Algeria’s Fury
Algeria, which harbors the Polisario leadership in exile and openly supports its independence ambitions, cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, citing “hostile actions”. The rift widened after Morocco normalized ties with Israel — prompting an Algerian Islamist leader to brand Morocco’s Prime Minister a “traitor”.
💡 Why This Matters
Trump’s renewed backing is likely to embolden Morocco diplomatically, strengthen its position at the United Nations, and further strain Algerian‑Moroccan relations. The declaration also reaffirms the Abraham Accords as a cornerstone of U.S. Middle East–North Africa policy, tying regional peace to deeper U.S.–Morocco–Israel cooperation.
