Morocco leverages U.S. backing to boost diplomatic clout and arms purchases

Recognition of Moroccan authority over Western Sahara by the United States at the end of 2020 marked a turning point that allowed Rabat to gather support from the United States, France and the United Kingdom, with Russia and China merely abstaining at the UN. The move coincided with the normalization of relations with Israel, leading to joint defense projects such as the Barak MX system and satellite contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros.

Morocco has become the continent’s largest arms importer, with 60% of its acquisitions coming from the United States, surpassing regional rival Algeria. The country is also reviving claims on the Spanish exclaves Ceuta and Melilla, a strategy that some link to the upcoming Spanish legislative elections. While Security Council Resolution 2797 endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, the final status remains unsettled, and the nation continues to broaden ties across Africa and Latin America, exemplified by recent fishing agreements with Russia and diplomatic recognition from Colombia.