UK Backs Realism in Sahara Dispute in Landmark Diplomatic Shift

New York – Homemad News-  from

American Television News

By Ahmed Fathi

UNHQ, New York: In a move that signals a notable evolution in Western diplomacy on the long-standing Western Sahara dispute, the United Kingdom has officially endorsed Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan as “the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis” for a lasting resolution. The announcement came in a joint communiqué issued following a high-level meeting in Rabat between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy.

The June 1 meeting marked Lammy’s first official visit to the North African kingdom since assuming office, and the joint declaration reflects a significant convergence between London and Rabat on a file that has long challenged regional stability and drawn global concern.

A Strategic Shift

“The United Kingdom considers Morocco’s autonomy proposal… as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute,” the statement read, referencing the Moroccan initiative that seeks to grant broad self-governance to the territory under Moroccan sovereignty.

While the UK had previously maintained a more cautious, UN-centric stance on the matter, this articulation aligns London closer to Washington, Madrid, Paris and other capitals that have shifted toward Morocco’s position in recent years.

Britain also reaffirmed its intent to act “bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support resolution of the conflict.”

Regional Implications

The communiqué emphasized the strategic value of resolving the Western Sahara dispute for broader regional stability, asserting that such a resolution “would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration.”

This point mirrors Morocco’s long-held position that the Saharan issue is not just a bilateral dispute but a regional impediment—affecting economic cooperation across the Maghreb and undermining the African Union’s continental ambitions.

Lammy acknowledged the “positive dynamic” unfolding under King Mohammed VI’s leadership and underscored the importance of the issue for Morocco. His visit comes amid a broader UK foreign policy recalibration toward Africa and the Global South.

Economic Incentives

Of particular note is London’s indication that it may support economic projects in the contested territory. “The UK can consider supporting projects in the Sahara,” the statement read, particularly through “UK Export Finance’s £5 billion commitment to support new business across the country.”

While not a full-fledged recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, this commitment to economic engagement in the Sahara carries major implications. It signals de facto alignment with Morocco’s development policies in the region and reflects growing international normalization of investment activities in cities like Laayoune and Dakhla.

Diplomatic Significance

As a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, the UK’s recalibrated position is diplomatically consequential. The communiqué stressed “the urgent need to find a resolution to this long-held dispute,” affirming the UK’s role in supporting a political settlement under UN auspices but with a clear tilt toward Morocco’s autonomy framework.

This development is likely to provoke criticism from the Polisario Front and its principal backer, Algeria, who advocate for a referendum on independence and reject the autonomy plan as insufficient.

A New Chapter in UK-Morocco Relations

The joint communiqué also reflects the deepening bilateral ties between the UK and Morocco post-Brexit, with Rabat seen as a stable and strategic partner in North Africa.

Lammy’s visit and the strong language of support indicate a diplomatic pivot that may resonate beyond the Sahara issue—particularly in areas such as counterterrorism, climate resilience, trade, and education.

As the dust settles on this landmark declaration, all eyes will now turn to the UN Security Council and key European actors to gauge whether London’s endorsement triggers a wider diplomatic realignment—or further entrenches the geopolitical divide over one of Africa’s longest unresolved conflicts.