On April 30, 2026, the United States reaffirmed its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara during a meeting between US Secretary of State and Moroccan officials in Rabat. The US position, first articulated in December 2020 under the Trump administration, recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.
The statement came amid ongoing United Nations-led efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara. The US emphasized that Morocco's autonomy proposal is 'serious, credible, and realistic' as a basis for a negotiated solution.
Morocco has controlled most of Western Sahara since a 1975 annexation, but the UN considers it a 'non-self-governing territory.' The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, demands a referendum on self-determination. The US reaffirmation aligns with its consistent policy since 2020, though no new concrete steps were announced.
