Trump Declares Full Support for Morocco’s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan

In a Throne Day message, President Donald Trump reiterates the U.S. commitment to Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, aligning with UK and France amid growing global consensus.

WASHINGTON / RABAT — August 3, 2025
In a powerful gesture marking Morocco’s 26th Throne Day, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again thrown Washington’s weight behind Rabat’s claim to Western Sahara, calling Morocco’s autonomy proposal “the most realistic and lasting solution” to the decades-old conflict. The statement, his first on the matter since returning to office in 2025, underscores an unbroken continuity in U.S. foreign policy toward the region despite shifting global dynamics.

“The United States firmly supports the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only credible framework for resolving the Western Sahara dispute,” Trump declared in his message to King Mohammed VI. “We commend the Kingdom’s efforts to promote stability, peace, and development throughout North Africa.”

This latest endorsement not only reaffirms the landmark 2020 U.S. recognition under the Abraham Accords but also places the Trump administration in lockstep with allies such as the United Kingdom and France, both of whom have voiced support for Morocco’s sovereignty in recent months.

Contextual Background: A Decades-Long Dispute

Western Sahara, a sparsely populated territory bordering Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania, has been at the heart of a protracted territorial dispute since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975. Morocco claims sovereignty over the region, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks an independent Sahrawi state. The conflict has led to repeated deadlocks at the UN and periods of armed conflict.

Morocco’s autonomy plan, first proposed in 2007, offers limited self-rule for the Sahrawi population under Moroccan sovereignty. The plan has increasingly gained international backing, including the historic U.S. recognition in 2020, which was reaffirmed this week.

Diplomatic Momentum Builds

“President Trump’s reaffirmation is a clear signal that Morocco remains a strategic partner for the United States,” said Dr. Amina Bouayach, a Moroccan political analyst. “It also shows that the U.S. sees regional autonomy under Moroccan rule as key to fighting extremism and ensuring long-term stability in the Sahel.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Gall echoed the sentiment during a July diplomatic visit to Rabat: “France continues to view Morocco’s proposal as serious, credible, and aligned with our vision for a peaceful Maghreb.”

Meanwhile, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi recently stated Nairobi’s backing of the autonomy plan, marking a turning point in African Union dynamics where Morocco seeks wider continental recognition.

Human Impact and Regional Stability

For the thousands of Sahrawis living in refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, the geopolitical limbo has meant generations of displacement, economic hardship, and uncertainty. Trump’s message places renewed pressure on the international community to push for a settlement that ensures dignity and security for all parties involved.

“The situation cannot remain frozen forever,” noted Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, a human rights advocate based in Laâyoune. “People here deserve a future that’s built on stability and economic opportunity—not endless political bargaining.”

Strategic Implications

Washington’s reaffirmation also serves broader U.S. interests in counterterrorism, trade, and energy cooperation in North and West Africa. The Western Sahara region borders the volatile Sahel—an epicenter of insurgent activity and a growing focus for U.S. security and development aid.

“This is not just a symbolic move,” said Ambassador John Bolton, Trump’s former National Security Advisor. “It sends a strong message to Algeria, Iran, and other actors who have used the Polisario conflict to undermine stability in the region.”