Time has come for UK to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara (British expert)

Time has come for the UK government to recognize Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory following in the footsteps of key allies, including the United States, France, Germany and Israel.

In an Op-Ed published in online platform “Comment Central”, Harry James Richer, a foreign policy analyst, said such recognition would positively contribute to the UK’s trade, energy, and foreign policy goals, affirming that supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara is not merely a diplomatic gesture but a strategic imperative.

With a new UK government finally settling in following the recent General Election, the United Kingdom has an opportunity to recalibrate its foreign policy objectives, said the British expert, citing the €10 billion deals sealed during the recent visit paid by French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco during which the French President renewed Paris support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

With new Labor government underscoring its own plans for both boosting economic growth and expanding renewable energy efforts, UK recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara would provide an aligned path forward, said Mr. Richer, noting that the post-Brexit world has seen the United Kingdom hungry for opportunities to strengthen its trade network and create partnerships in sectors such as energy, logistics, and technology.

The Sahara, in which Morocco has already made significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure alongside transportation networks, has the potential to similarly attract tremendous amounts of British investment, boost British trade, and support Britain’s foreign policy ambitions in a post-Brexit world.

Beyond economic considerations, supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara will lead to a more comprehensive borders regimes, reducing illegal migration into Europe, alongside threats of terrorism, and though this, easing pressure on the UK, said the British analyst, who affirmed that the UN Security Council’s recent extension of the MINURSO mandate underscores the international community’s recognition of the centrality of the area to counter-terrorism efforts.

Actually, the Moroccan Sahara’s vast deserts and high solar exposure have positioned it as an ideal location for solar farms alongside a range of additional, impactful renewable energy projects. These include wind energy farms such as the Aftissat and Boujdour wind farms alongside projects focused on green hydrogen and ammonia production, which all underscore Morocco’s commitment to expanding its renewable energy capacity within the Sahara and already show impressive results. Fostering such a partnership directly aligns with the new Labor Government’s energy agenda.

With the U.S. recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara, the incoming second Trump administration will certainly dedicate significant efforts to cooperation surrounding the Sahara further, both within the context of efforts to expand the Abraham Accords and outside it, said the British expert, warning that delaying UK support puts London at risk of isolating itself from allies who see Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara beneficial to stability, trade, and security.
London cannot afford to lose sight of its strategic interests or lag behind its allies on an issue of such significance any longer, underlined Mr. Richer who served as a senior aide and economic adviser to a member of the UK Parliament.