The Geopolitical Case for UK Recognition of Moroccan Sovereignty over the Sahara
Why recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara is no longer a symbolic gesture, but a pragmatic decision.
As the United Kingdom repositions itself on the global stage in the wake of Brexit, redefining foreign partnerships is not just an option – it is a strategic necessity. In this context, the Kingdom of Morocco stands out as a reliable, long-standing, and forward-looking partner whose stability and regional influence directly align with core British interests.
This briefing offers a strategic appreciation of why recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara is no longer a symbolic gesture, but a pragmatic decision. It directly serves the UK’s long-term objectives in regional security, energy diversification, trade resilience, and geopolitical presence across North and West Africa, the Sahel, and the wider Atlantic space.
Crucially, this strategic recalibration takes place as the international order undergoes a profound transformation. The return of Donald Trump to the White House may usher in a recalibrated, more interest-driven approach to U.S. foreign policy – one likely to reshape transatlantic dynamics, prompt adjustments within NATO, and redefine the contours of U.S. engagement in Africa. Such a shift could also reverberate across Mediterranean security frameworks and influence the evolving dynamics of the Arab regional order, where new alignments and strategic vacuums are already reshaping long-standing balances.
In this evolving context, the UK must consolidate strategic bilateral partnerships that enhance its autonomy and its capacity to project influence across key regions. Morocco, with its Atlantic and Mediterranean outreach, counterterrorism leadership, and growing role as a green energy hub, offers precisely that opportunity.
For these reasons and in an era of intensifying global competition, the case for deepening ties with Morocco – and supporting its sovereignty over the Sahara – speaks directly to the imperatives of a Global Britain that seeks strategic leverage, resilience, and relevance in a world entering a new phase of multipolar realignment.
Thus, with over four centuries of continuous diplomatic relations, the UK-Morocco partnership stands as one of the oldest and most resilient in modern international affairs. This long-standing alliance, forged through shared interests in trade, maritime security, and regional stability, has weathered profound geopolitical upheavals. Within this framework, recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara is not a mere symbolic gesture – it constitutes a strategic decision that reinforces this historic alliance and aligns seamlessly with the UK’s ambition to project a resilient, outward-facing, and globally engaged foreign policy. Strengthening ties with Morocco is therefore not only a reaffirmation of shared history, but also a forward-looking investment in geopolitical stability, economic diversification, and strategic influence.
A Timeless Alliance: Four Centuries of Strategic Trust
Accordingly, the Anglo-Moroccan alliance, one of the world’s oldest diplomatic relationships, originated in the late 16th century with the notable correspondence between Queen Elizabeth I and Sultan Ahmad al-Mansour. These early communications established a foundation for lasting collaboration, later formalized by the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1721- a pivotal agreement that predated Morocco’s Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the United States by several decades. This highlights Morocco’s historical strategic significance to Britain. Today, the UK and Morocco share strong diplomatic ties rooted in common values of sovereignty, security, and mutual respect. These enduring historical bonds have cultivated deep trust, positioning Morocco as one of Britain’s most dependable partners in North Africa and beyond. Acknowledging Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara would further demonstrate the UK’s commitment to this centuries-old partnership and its shared legacy of cooperation and mutual benefit.
The Sahara Nexus: Why Stability Begins with Sovereignty
The Moroccan Sahara is not merely a territorial matter; it is a geopolitical nexus critical to the stability of North Africa and the Sahel. By recognizing Moroccan sovereignty, the UK would reinforce a trusted partner in a region rife with instability. Challenges such as terrorism, human trafficking, and separatist movements threaten regional, European, and global security. Morocco’s counterterrorism leadership – exemplified by initiatives like the Rabat Process and its co-chairing of the Global Counterterrorism Forum – underscores its role as a bulwark against these threats. Furthermore, Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, endorsed by the United States, Spain, Germany, and other major powers, offers a pragmatic resolution promoting regional stability and security. By aligning with this consensus, the UK would contribute to resolving a protracted conflict, thereby strengthening the security of the Mediterranean, Atlantic and the Sahel.
The growing nexus between separatism and terrorism in North and West Africa represents a dangerous evolution in the regional security landscape. The Polisario Front’s alleged ties with Iranian-backed actors, including Hezbollah, raise serious concerns about the emergence of a destabilizing axis that threatens both regional and Euro-Atlantic interests. This convergence of proxy networks, ideological radicalism, and armed separatism risks transforming the southern Mediterranean into a theatre of asymmetrical threats. In this context, the Strait of Gibraltar – a vital chokepoint for global trade and NATO’s southern flank – could become increasingly vulnerable to non-state and state-sponsored disruptions. Recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara would thus serve as a strategic counterweight to this confluence of threats and reinforce the UK’s commitment to maritime security, regional stability, and the integrity of Western alliances.
In the post-Brexit era, the UK has sought to diversify its trade partnerships, and Morocco emerges as a pivotal partner in Africa. The bilateral Association Agreement of 2019 has already spurred growth in trade relations, particularly in agriculture, renewable energy, and automotive manufacturing.
Thus, The UK and Morocco have strengthened their ties through the 2019 Association Agreement, ensuring continuity in trade and political relations post-Brexit. This agreement has facilitated increased bilateral trade, with total trade in goods and services between the two countries reaching £3.1 billion in 2022.
Hence, under Moroccan sovereignty, the Sahara is transforming into an economic hub, with projects like the Dakhla Atlantic Port and renewable energy installations presenting unparalleled opportunities for British businesses. Recognizing Moroccan sovereignty would enhance the investment climate, offering legal certainty and stability for UK enterprises.
For example, the Xlinks Project is an extraordinary renewable energy collaboration between Morocco and the UK, set to deliver clean power via an ambitious 3,800-kilometer undersea cable. By tapping into Morocco’s plentiful solar and wind resources, the project will generate a staggering 10.5 GW of energy, with 3.6 GW destined for the UK – enough to power an impressive 7 million homes! What’s more, this initiative perfectly aligns with the UK’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. Crucially, this project not only bolsters the UK’s energy security but also strengthens the historic ties between the two nations. Morocco is poised to emerge as a green energy hub for Europe, enhancing its geopolitical influence in both Africa and Europe. For the UK, this partnership diversifies energy sources, a vital strategy in the post-Brexit era.
Nevertheless, it’s not without challenges. The high costs, technical hurdles, and geopolitical risks – like regional tensions – pose significant obstacles. Yet, if these can be overcome, Xlinks could revolutionize global energy collaboration, proving that renewable energy can unite continents while cutting carbon footprints. Truly, this is a project with the potential to reshape the future of sustainable energy.
From a geopolitical perspective, recognizing Moroccan sovereignty enables the UK to counterbalance rival influences in the region, particularly from Algeria, which aligns itself with Russia and Iran. Algeria’s support for the Polisario Front and its ties to Iran pose destabilizing threats to Western interests in North Africa and the Sahel. By supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity, the UK would bolster a pro-Western ally committed to regional stability and countering extremist influences.
Beyond its support for separatist movements, Iran’s expanding footprint in the Maghreb raises significant alarms for Western security architecture, particularly along NATO’s southern flank. Tehran’s growing ties with Algeria – a key backer of the Polisario Front – offer the Islamic Republic an indirect gateway into North Africa, a region historically outside its traditional sphere of influence. This presence is particularly concerning in light of Iran’s advancing nuclear program, which has crossed key enrichment thresholds, sparking renewed fears of proliferation. The convergence of Iranian ideological ambitions, proxy networks, and ballistic capabilities with Algeria’s geopolitical posture threatens to create a destabilizing arc stretching from the Sahel to the Mediterranean. For NATO and its partners, this evolving axis represents not only a challenge to regional stability, but also a strategic breach that could enable malign actors to undermine Western influence across North and West Africa. Recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and reinforcing Rabat as a stable partner would therefore serve as a geopolitical firewall against the spread of Iranian influence and nuclear brinkmanship in a region critical to Euro-Atlantic security.
A Strategic Choice for a Global Britain
So why strategically Morocco is indispensable to the UK’s “Global Britain” visions. As a stable ally in North Africa, Morocco provides the UK with a gateway to the African continent and the Mediterranean and Atlantic – regions vital for trade, security, and geopolitical influence. Economically, Morocco’s dynamic growth, strategic proximity to Europe, trade-friendly policies, and emerging leadership in green hydrogen and ammonia production present significant opportunities for British firms to diversify supply chains, enhance sustainability, and mitigate Brexit-related disruptions. In the energy sector, Morocco’s investments in renewable energy and its potential as a global hub for green hydrogen and ammonia production, combined with the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, underscore its growing role in energy geopolitics. This pipeline, a strategic initiative, has the potential to transform regional energy markets, enhance energy security for Europe, and solidify Morocco’s position as a critical energy partner.
In terms of security, Morocco’s expertise in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and maritime security aligns with the UK’s efforts to address pressing global challenges, including cyber threats, espionage, and organized crime. Together, these factors position Morocco as a key ally for fostering economic resilience, energy innovation, and global security collaboration.
Geopolitically, Morocco’s balanced diplomacy and its growing ties with major powers, including the US and EU, enhance the UK’s capacity to navigate complex international dynamics while expanding its influence in Africa. Deepening this partnership allows the UK and Morocco to address global trade tensions, bolster regional stability, and counter emerging threats, reaffirming the UK’s global ambitions. In this light, recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara would not only affirm a historic alliance – it would also reflect a sovereign British foreign policy choice, fully consistent with the post-Brexit vision of a Global Britain acting independently and strategically on the world stage.
Thus, recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara aligns the UK with an expanding international consensus. The United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty in 2020, followed by Spain, Germany, and France’s endorsement of the autonomy plan. This trend reflects the increasing recognition of Moroccan sovereignty as a stabilizing resolution to a decades-long conflict. For the UK, such recognition would solidify its role as a forward-thinking actor capable of shaping pragmatic solutions and strengthening its post-Brexit identity as a global power prioritizing strategic alliances beyond the European Union.
I need to highlight that valuing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara is not a symbolic gesture – it is a strategic decision with tangible benefits for the UK. It reinforces a historic alliance, strengthens regional stability, counters adversarial influences, and aligns with pressing economic and geopolitical realities. Morocco’s leadership in promoting security and economic development renders it an indispensable ally in a region critical to Britain’s long-term interests. In navigating a post-Brexit world, aligning with partners like Morocco allows the UK to reaffirm its global relevance. Hence, by comprehending Moroccan sovereignty, the UK honors centuries of friendship while securing its place as a key architect of stability and progress in North Africa and beyond.
On this note, the Atlantic and Sahel regions hold immense strategic importance for advancing the UK’s “Global Britain” agenda, offering vital opportunities to address shared economic, security, and geopolitical objectives. The Atlantic space, encompassing North Africa, West Africa, and the broader Atlantic Ocean, serves as a cornerstone for global trade, maritime security, and energy supply chains. Within this framework, Morocco’s leadership in Atlantic security, exemplified by initiatives like the Atlantic African States Initiative, makes it an indispensable partner for the UK. By fostering collaboration in areas such as joint maritime exercises or infrastructure development in Atlantic hubs like Tangier Med, the UK can effectively diversify its trade partnerships post-Brexit while ensuring stability along critical international shipping routes. Similarly, the Sahel region, situated south of Morocco, represents a critical frontier for addressing instability driven by terrorism, organized crime, and climate-induced challenges. Morocco’s proactive counterterrorism efforts and its sustained engagement in fostering development within the Sahel align seamlessly with the UK’s priorities of combating extremism and building resilience in fragile regions. Collaborative efforts could focus on strengthening regional initiatives while advancing initiatives that tackle migration, food security, and governance challenges – issues that directly impact both UK and European security. By deepening partnerships in these regions, the UK can secure its interests while contributing to the stability and prosperity of two interconnected and strategically vital areas.
Integrating the Atlantic and Sahel dimensions into the “Global Britain” strategy positions the UK as a leader in addressing trans-regional challenges through sustainable and collaborative solutions. Leveraging Morocco as a bridge state, the UK can gain access to African and Atlantic markets, enhance its security presence, and advance a development-focused foreign policy aligned with its global objectives. As British historian Lord Acton aptly observed, “Nations do not escape history.” By recognizing the significance of its historic ties with Morocco, the UK can affirm its commitment to sovereignty, cooperation, and a partnership that has endured for centuries – shaping a shared future of stability and progress.
By officially recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, Britain will not merely reaffirm a centuries-old alliance; it will solidify a strategic foothold in North Africa and strengthen the Washington-London-Rabat axis as a bulwark against destabilizing forces. In a context where Moscow, through Algiers, seeks to reposition its influence following the fall of the Syrian regime, this decision will redefine regional geopolitical balances. It will reinforce the southern flank of the Atlantic Alliance, ensure the security of energy supplies, and curb expansionist ambitions that threaten stability in the Mediterranean and the Sahel. On the global chessboard, this British initiative will not be just a diplomatic gesture but a major strategic decision, shaping the balance of power in Africa- a continent that has become an arena for intensifying great-power competition- and beyond.
Given these factors, the United Kingdom’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara would not only affirm a historic partnership but also position Britain as a visionary actor in an era defined by shifting global alliances and resource competition. Morocco’s transformative role as a bridge between Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic cannot be overstated. Its proactive diplomacy, exemplified by over 30 African nations opening consulates in Dakhla and Laayoune since 2020, reflects not only growing continental consensus on the Sahara issue but also a broader shift toward recognizing Morocco’s stabilizing role in North and West Africa. This pan-African momentum signals that Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is no longer a contested anomaly, but a geopolitical reality embraced by a majority of African states. The UK, by aligning with this movement, would enhance its influence across African diplomatic circles and reinforce its engagement with the Global South. Moreover, Morocco’s integration into regional security architectures, such as the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, underscores its capacity to stabilize conflict-prone regions like the Sahel, where British interests in countering extremism and irregular migration converge. Crucially, Morocco’s renewable energy ambitions- including the world’s largest solar farm (Noor Solar Plant) and the Xlinks project- complement Britain’s climate leadership goals, offering a blueprint for transcontinental green industrialization.
By aligning with Rabat, the UK gains access to Morocco’s emerging green hydrogen corridor, poised to supply 10% of Europe’s demand by 2030, while securing critical mineral supply chains vital for tech and defense sectors. Skeptics may cite legal complexities, yet Morocco’s autonomy plan-praised by the UN as serious and credible – provides a pragmatic pathway to reconcile regional tensions. Inaction, conversely, risks ceding strategic ground to rivals like China and Russia, who are actively courting African partners. By embracing this bold stance, Britain honors a 400 – year alliance while positioning itself at the vanguard of a reordered global landscape – where energy, security, and diplomacy intersect across continent.
