"The United States recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supports Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic Autonomy Proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute," emphasized the U.S. Department of State in a statement issued following the meeting held on Tuesday, April 8, in Washington between U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.
Reaffirming the position officially announced by President Donald Trump to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the United States once again reiterated its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in this official communication from the Department of State.
"The United States continues to believe that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution," the statement added. It further noted: "The Secretary reaffirmed President Trump’s call for the parties to engage in discussions without delay, using Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as the sole framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution. The Secretary noted that the United States would facilitate progress toward this objective."
As a reminder, during a phone conversation between the Moroccan Sovereign and the President of the United States in December 2020, President Donald Trump informed His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the issuance of a presidential proclamation — with undeniable legal and political authority and immediate effect — recognizing the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the entire region of the Moroccan Sahara.
As clarified on Tuesday, April 8, in writing by the Department of State, Secretary Rubio had initially conveyed this position orally, stating that "the U.S. President urges the parties to engage in discussions without delay, based on Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as the sole framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution."
The Secretary of State "noted that the United States would facilitate progress toward this objective".
