This position, expressed during a meeting held on Tuesday in Washington between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is part of a “consistent diplomatic approach" going back to the origins of relations between Morocco and the U.S., Esparza Machín told MAP.

He added that the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara by the U.S. in 2020 is a decisive step in the history of bilateral ties, adding that this strategic orientation is further strengthened by Washington’s sustained consensus on this position.

Morocco is perceived in the U.S. as a “reliable partner whose role is crucial to the region’s stability,” he said, adding that the ties between the two countries rest on solid foundations, notably the Free Trade Agreement signed in 2005 and bilateral military cooperation.

In this context, the Spanish expert insisted on U.S. support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, which he described as serious, credible and realistic, adding that it stands out today as the only viable framework for achieving a lasting political solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.