Morocco has received renewed backing from the United States Congress, reinforcing American recognition of its sovereignty over the Western Sahara and stimulating prospects for foreign investment in the region.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting in Rabat on Friday between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and members of the US Congress, who discussed avenues for strengthened bilateral cooperation.
During the meeting, the American delegation reiterated its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan in the Sahara, describing it as a framework for political stability and economic development.
“We hope this recognition will encourage further US investment in the southern provinces,” the delegation emphasized, highlighting the strategic opportunities created by implementing the autonomy initiative.
Mohamed Bentlahou Dekali, a professor of international relations at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, noted that the congressional endorsement aligns with President Donald Trump’s reaffirmation of US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory in his official message to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day celebrations.
“This confirmation will pave the way for American investments in the southern provinces and curtail efforts by the Polisario Front and its Algerian backers,” he said.
Experts also stressed the broader geopolitical implications. Abdel Fattah Fatihi, a researcher specializing in Sahara and Sahel affairs, described the congressional support as part of implementing the Abraham Accords in both legal and economic dimensions. “It signals potential expansion of the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement and increased US investment in the southern regions,” he explained.
Analysts highlighted that the move strengthens the US-Morocco alliance across political, security, and geostrategic areas, particularly in the Sahel and Sahara regions, with a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation. Fatihi added that the endorsement exerts diplomatic pressure on Algeria and the Polisario Front to accept Morocco’s autonomy proposal.
The congressional reaffirmation marks a significant milestone for Morocco, signaling both international legitimacy for its Sahara policy and the prospect of enhanced economic development through increased foreign investment in its southern provinces.
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