On April 30, 2026, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, during a press conference in Rabat following his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, stated: 'The United States recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara.' This reaffirms the US position first announced in December 2020 under the Trump administration, which has been maintained by the Biden administration.
Landau's visit to Morocco is part of a regional tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing shared security and economic interests. The statement comes amid ongoing UN-led efforts to resolve the Western Sahara conflict, with the US continuing to support Morocco's autonomy plan as a serious and credible basis for a negotiated solution.
The reaffirmation was welcomed by Moroccan officials, who view it as a continuation of a consistent US policy. The Polisario Front and Algeria, which supports the Sahrawi independence movement, have rejected the US position, arguing it undermines international law and UN resolutions calling for a self-determination referendum.
