For years, Morocco staked everything on U.S. favors, selling out its political dignity. The result: bitter disappointment. More than that—it’s a diplomatic humiliation. Inside the royal palace, tension is high. How to explain this reversal after so many concessions?
Tags : Morocco, United States, Polisario Front, Algeria, Western Sahara, Israel, Abraham deal, Gaza, Sahel,
Buoyed by a global context it perceives as favorable, Morocco no longer wants to settle for sparrows when there are thrushes. « Now or never! » it bellows between mouthfuls of an ill-digested expansionist ambition. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the Makhzen has launched a frantic race to forcefully close the Western Sahara file. And now that the U.S. and Israel are settling scores with their declared enemies—Hamas in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran—Morocco is trying to sneak in, not as a strategic actor, but as a stowaway. It inserts itself, pays in full and generously, hoping its issue will be resolved as a side effect.
The Makhzen is willing to trade everything—principles, honor, even the dignity of its proud people. It has done what no other Arab country has dared. Loudly and clearly, Mohammed VI’s Morocco says to Israel: “Your only ally in the Arab world is us, just us! Come, help yourself, you’re at home!” Even before signing the Abraham Accords to normalize ties with the Zionist entity, Morocco had already enshrined Judaism as part of its national identity in its Constitution and went as far as to return property to Moroccan Jews naturalized in 1967. As for Gaza, bled dry, there’s total radio silence in the kingdom of kif. Not a word, not even a token expression of outrage. The state that dreams of regional leadership prefers to look away from genocide. While bombs rain down on Gaza’s children, Rabat is careful not to offend Tel Aviv with any statement condemning the massacres.
For 50 years, the Sahrawi issue has persisted, and Rabat has tried everything to impose its colonial thesis—without success. For Morocco, the 51st anniversary of the cause must not come to pass. The Makhzen is in a rush, especially with only two years until the U.S. midterms, which may shift current pro-Morocco balances. In this urgency, the Makhzen is rallying its troops. Credible Western diplomatic sources report that Morocco is preparing a conference in Dubai in the coming months—or even weeks—with pro-autonomy plan countries. The hidden aim: dazzle the world with a show around the Sahrawi issue and Morocco’s so-called autonomy plan, ending in a final declaration calling on the UN to endorse the plan. The same sources reveal early UN discussions to transform MINURSO into a “special political mission,” slashing its staff and budget by half, eliminating the dreaded word “referendum.” And the final prize: labeling the Polisario Front a terrorist organization, stripping it of liberation movement status—therefore, no territory left to liberate. A cynical strategy.
But in this rugged path, one country stands firm, uncompromising on the right of peoples to self-determination: Algeria. Again, the Makhzen cries for help—and Israel answers. All of Morocco’s disinformation and media manipulation campaigns against Algeria are inspired by Israeli tactics. The method is simple: « blame Algeria for every regional fluctuation and assign it the villain’s role. » After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Morocco rejoiced. Algeria, seen as the next target, was « already dead—just needed burying. » In vain. Makhzen propaganda labs are back in action amid the U.S.-Israeli “lightning war” on Iran. They claim Algeria supports Iran, just because it condemned the attacks. Yet Egypt, Jordan, and even the UAE issued much stronger condemnations than Algeria’s.
The lie didn’t stick, so here comes another: Algeria supports terrorism in Tunisia—just like claims made by some Sahel countries. But how can anyone believe such nonsense about the country that fought and defeated terrorism alone, paying with over 200,000 lives, wounded, widows, and orphans? And yet, everything crumbles. Morocco’s carefully exported narrative collapses like a house of cards, blown away by a gust from Washington. In a message for Algeria’s 63rd Independence Day, President Donald Trump set the record straight. He praised Algeria as a “stable regional partner” and a “key ally in counterterrorism.” These few words were enough to shake the foundations of Morocco’s long-standing, sand-built strategy. Trump’s message is a public rebuke—a realignment of power.
This was not just diplomatic politeness but a clear political signal, especially after the U.S. rejected all Sahel-country complaints accusing Algeria of supporting terrorism—many pushed by Morocco. Washington now presents Algeria as an expert and capable central player in ensuring regional stability. No other African leader has received such acknowledgment, reflecting U.S. recognition of Algeria’s status. Even customs tariffs shouldn’t be interpreted as political hostility—they can be seen as reciprocity, since Algeria also imposed high tariffs on some American goods. So this shouldn’t be seen as a setback in U.S.-Algeria ties, particularly in light of growing cooperation in energy, tech, cybersecurity, and vocational training.
Observers believe the next phase will see deeper bilateral cooperation, even with some surprising U.S. moves. The Trump administration treats partners through a purely economic lens, often devoid of ideological bias. American praise for Algeria isn’t isolated—it follows repeated statements by U.S. officials like Ambassador Elizabeth Moore Aubin, who consistently emphasized Algeria as a top strategic partner in Africa. AFRICOM commander Michael Langley has also stressed Algeria’s role in counterterrorism in the Sahel and regional stability.
So what will the Makhzen do now that its patron has rendered his verdict? The shock is greater because it came from the supposed unshakable ally. For years, Morocco staked everything on U.S. favors, selling out its political dignity. The result: bitter disappointment. More than that—it’s a diplomatic humiliation. Inside the royal palace, tension is high. How to explain this reversal after so many concessions? In Rabat, anxiety reigns. Caught in its own game, the kingdom now faces the reality of opportunistic alliances: America never gives without benefit and doesn’t buy what’s already offered for free. The gamble was servile. The failure is sovereign.
El Moudjahid, 14/07/2025
#Morocco #Algeria #WesternSahara #Polisario #USA #Trump #Israel #Gaza #AbrahamDeals
