In a recent diplomatic mission to Washington, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita returned to Rabat visibly disappointed after failing to secure renewed U.S. support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Sources close to the visit revealed that American officials, including members of the State Department and former Trump-era representatives, held firm in stating that the issue of Western Sahara remains unresolved and cannot be settled unilaterally.
During the high-level meetings, U.S. officials reiterated their long-standing position: while Morocco remains an important ally, Algeria is equally significant in Washington’s strategic considerations. This stance seemed to take the Moroccan delegation by surprise, especially given previous U.S. gestures during the Trump administration which appeared to lean in Rabat’s favour.
According to diplomatic sources, the U.S. Foreign Affairs Office made it clear that “the solution must come through direct dialogue between Algeria and Morocco,” and insisted that Washington has never formally recognised Western Sahara as sovereign Moroccan territory. This assertion directly undermines Morocco’s ongoing diplomatic campaign to gain international recognition for its claim over the region.
Perhaps the most striking part of the conversation came when U.S. officials reportedly referred to Western Sahara as a “sovereign country,” and acknowledged the humanitarian reality of over 200,000 Sahrawi refugees currently living in camps in southern Algeria.
In a further diplomatic blow to Rabat, one senior U.S. advisor – believed to be a holdover from the Trump administration – added: “Morocco needs to take steps to improve its relationship with Algeria. There can be no lasting peace or resolution without the full engagement of both sides.”
This rebuke signals a major shift in tone from Washington, suggesting that the Biden administration is keen to distance itself from any perceived bias and instead position the U.S. as a neutral party in a conflict that has festered for decades.
The Sahrawi people, through their representatives, continue to declare that they will never accept Moroccan sovereignty. “We have resisted for decades, and our identity is not for sale,” said a Western Saharan official based in Algiers.
This failed diplomatic push is likely to have serious consequences in the region, not least for Morocco’s foreign policy ambitions. As the international community re-engages with the Western Sahara question, the United States’ insistence on neutrality and dialogue could shift the dynamics of this long-standing dispute.
Whether Morocco and Algeria can sit at the same table remains to be seen. But for now, Washington has made one thing clear: peace will not come through pressure, but through partnership.