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The United States has sent a strong diplomatic signal reaffirming its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, as two key figures from the Trump administration took steps to solidify Washington’s stance.
Duke Buchan III, nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next US ambassador to Morocco, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 29. In parallel, Massad Boulos, Trump’s special envoy for Africa and the Middle East, embarked on a regional tour.
Together, their actions underscore a consistent U.S. policy: support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only viable solution to the long-standing Sahara dispute.
Buchan, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to Spain and Andorra, emphasized the historic and strategic nature of US-Morocco relations. “Morocco is one of our oldest partners,” he told senators, citing the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
“For nearly 240 years, our bilateral relationship has made Americans and Moroccans safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” he said.
He outlined three key priorities for his mission in Rabat: Deepening historical and strategic ties, strengthening security cooperation- including counterterrorism and joint military exercises like African Lion- and reaffirming US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.
Buchan reiterated that the U.S. views Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic path to resolving the conflict.
The ambassador-designate’s remarks align with the 2020 presidential proclamation by Donald Trump recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. That position has been reaffirmed by the current Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who recently restated US support during a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
Buchan also highlighted Morocco’s role as a model economic partner, pledging to expand trade and investment opportunities in sectors such as technology, agriculture, energy, and transportation.
While Buchan addressed lawmakers in Washington, Massad Boulos was in Algiers meeting with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and senior officials. Despite discussions of potential cooperation, the US envoy made clear that Washington’s support for Morocco remains unchanged.
Boulos’ tour, which will conclude in Rabat, is seen as part of a broader US strategy to accelerate a resolution to the Sahara conflict. His message has been consistent: the autonomy plan is the only acceptable framework for peace, and the US intends to play a leading role in securing a final settlement.
With Buchan poised to take up his post in Rabat, Boulos actively engaging regional leaders, and Rubio maintaining a firm line at the State Department, the US has established a three-tiered diplomatic approach to the Sahara issue.
According to sources close to the administration, Washington expects progress “in the coming months,” signaling a shift from rhetoric to action.
For Algeria, which supports the Polisario separatist militias, the developments mark a clear setback. The US appears determined to close the chapter on the dispute and anchor the Sahara issue at the heart of its strategic partnership with Morocco.
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