U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed Washington’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, calling Rabat’s autonomy plan the only viable solution to the decades-long territorial dispute. The statement, reported by Morocco’s state news agency MAP, marks Trump’s first public remarks on the issue during his second term.
The Western Sahara conflict has pitted Morocco, which claims the resource-rich territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks full independence. The region, known for its phosphate reserves and fishing grounds, has been contested since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975.
Trump first recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara at the end of his initial term, in exchange for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords. The accords also saw other Muslim-majority nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, establish diplomatic ties with Israel.
Trump reiterated that the U.S. supports Morocco’s “serious, credible and realistic” autonomy proposal and highlighted ongoing cooperation with Rabat on security, counterterrorism, and regional economic development. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in April that this policy stance remains unchanged.
In June, Britain became the third permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, alongside the U.S. and France, to endorse Morocco’s autonomy plan. Algeria, however, continues to back the Sahrawi Republic and demands a U.N.-supervised referendum that includes independence as an option, a proposal Morocco rejects.
Trump emphasized strengthening U.S.-Morocco ties and advancing peace efforts in North Africa and the broader Middle East, signaling continued American engagement in the region’s geopolitical landscape amid ongoing tensions between Morocco and Algeria.
This reaffirmation could further shape Western Sahara negotiations and influence regional alliances tied to the Abraham Accords.