Lead

Since late July, the United States has signaled a move to strengthen its ties with Morocco, both economically and diplomatically, according to reports from AllAfrica and RFI — English. In 2020, the US backed Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco normalising relations with Israel. Now, Washington appears ready to support Morocco's claims regarding the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Coverage Comparison

Both AllAfrica and RFI — English report the same core facts: the US strengthening ties with Morocco, US backing for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, US support for Morocco's claims on Ceuta and Melilla, Morocco naming a highway after Donald Trump, a US–Morocco agreement for a hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Laayoune, and a bill by two US lawmakers to designate the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The framing in both outlets is consistent, with an emphasis on Morocco's strategy to court the Trump administration. Both quote Riccardo Fabiani, North Africa project director at the International Crisis Group (ICG), who characterises Morocco's actions as part of a strategy to secure continued American support for its position on Western Sahara.

Key Claims

US–Morocco rapprochement

The United States has been increasingly signalling a move to strengthen ties with Morocco, both economically and diplomatically. This includes, as reported by both AllAfrica and RFI — English, US backing for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara — a stance first secured in 2020 as part of a deal involving Morocco's normalisation of relations with Israel.

Washington now appears ready to support Morocco's claims regarding Ceuta and Melilla. According to both outlets, the US has sent a clear message that it no longer regards these two enclaves as Spanish territories, instead supporting Morocco's position. This comes as Spain has faced a divided European Union in the wake of the influx of 50,000 migrants into Ceuta over 24 hours last week, with pressure mounting on Spain to give up the two North African territories.

Morocco's gestures toward the Trump administration

King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced that the new expressway connecting Tiznit, in the south of the country, and Dakhla, in Western Sahara, will be named the Donald J. Trump Highway. Additionally, the US Ambassador to Morocco signed an agreement awarding a US grant for the creation of a hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Laayoune, Western Sahara.

Two US lawmakers have also introduced a bill to examine designating the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Expert analysis

Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group told RFI — English that Morocco's actions are part of a strategy to "woo the Trump administration" and, above all, to ensure that the administration continues to support the Moroccan position during talks aimed at resolving the Western Sahara conflict. "This is, in fact, the Kingdom's primary objective," he said. "Consequently, any strategy is deemed acceptable to maintain American support for Morocco's autonomy plans during these negotiations and ultimately achieve a resolution to the conflict that favours Morocco and its stance on the dispute."

Fabiani also cautioned that the Trump administration is not always reliable, noting that "presidents often change their minds or shift their positions," and therefore Morocco's strategy involves continuing to send signals and offer small concessions to the United States.

Perspectives on US–Spain relations

One report suggests that the US views Spain as a state that continues to side with the Palestinians in Gaza and remained neutral during the conflict with Iran, and consequently sees Spain as an adversary or at least as a state that cannot be counted on as an ally. The same report indicates that the security guarantees previously provided by the US and NATO to Spain are no longer in place due to American support for the Moroccan position on Ceuta and Melilla. This perspective appears in a single report and has not been repeated by other outlets in this coverage.

Another claim, also present in only one report, asserts that there is no link between the Polisario Front and Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon. This assertion is presented as a factual statement in that report, though no other outlet in this coverage addresses it.