Proclamation on Recognizing The Sovereignty Of The Kingdom Of Morocco Over The Western Sahara

The United States affirms, as stated by previous Administrations, its support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory. Therefore, as of today, the United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory and reaffirms its support for Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the Western Sahara territory. The United States believes that an independent Sahrawi State is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict and that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution. We urge the parties to engage in discussions without delay, using Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution. To facilitate progress toward this aim, the United States will encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory, and to that end will open a consulate in the Western Sahara territory, in Dakhla, to promote economic and business opportunities for the region.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim that, the United States recognizes that the entire Western Sahara territory is part of the Kingdom of Morocco.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

On December 10, 2020, President Donald Trump announced the fourth Arab-Israeli agreement in four months. The United States also agreed to recognize Morocco’s claim over the long-disputed Western Sahara region as part of the deal.

Israel and Morocco will now restore diplomatic and other ties, Trump said. This will include the immediate reopening of liaison offices in Tel Aviv and Rabat and eventually the opening of embassies. Joint overflight rights for the two nations’ airlines will are also part of the agreement.

The agreement builds on Trump’s “Abraham Accords,” one of his main foreign policy accomplishments which normalizes relations between Arab countries and Israel. Morocco also achieved U.S. recognition of its claim to Western Sahara.