A new analysis by Spain’s prestigious Real Instituto Elcano concludes that Morocco has successfully transformed its partnership with the United States into a broad strategic relationship, while Spain faces the risk of gradually losing influence over Washington’s North Africa agenda.
Published on 16 October, the report by Carlota García Encina and Charles Powell notes that US-Morocco ties have evolved far beyond traditional security cooperation to encompass geo-economics, supply chains, energy, technology and engagement across Africa.
The Sahara issue has become the central political pillar of this relationship and the clearest success of Rabat’s strategy toward Washington.
“Washington now views autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the only viable solution,” the authors write, adding that Rabat is converting this political support into a new diplomatic, economic and strategic reality on the ground.
Morocco’s growing value to the United States, according to Elcano, stems from its unique ability to maintain strong links with Gulf monarchies, preserves strategic relations with Israel despite the Gaza conflict, and bridges the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the Sahel, Africa and the Middle East.
The report traces the relationship’s development from its historical foundations through the post-9/11 era, the 2004 Free Trade Agreement, Morocco’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally, and the decisive breakthrough of December 2020, when the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara in parallel with the Abraham Accords.