In an op-ed published by the Federation of Peruvian Journalists, Ricardo Sanchez Serra described Donald Trump’s
reaffirmation of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara as a “historic gesture.”
The op-ed places the American position within the long-term context of Moroccan-American relations. The
author recalls that, in 1777, Morocco was the first state to recognise the independence of the United States, a founding milestone in a bilateral relationship based on trust and strategic convergence.
Donald Trump’s reaffirmation of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara is, in his view, the culmination of a realistic interpretation of the issue: regional stability, the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, the security of maritime routes, and energy interconnections.
Sanchez Serra emphasises the centrality of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, considered the “serious and credible” basis for a lasting political settlement.
The article highlights the resonance of this position among a growing number of Latin American countries that see the autonomy solution as an option that reconciles territorial integrity and advanced local management. It also highlights the alignment of interests between Washington and Rabat: security cooperation, investments in renewable energy, and the kingdom’s role as an African hub and Atlantic platform.
Diplomatically, the American reaffirmation is creating a ripple effect in multilateral forums where the narrative battle is being played out. The Peruvian text warns against “fixed” interpretations of the issue, divorced from the realities on the ground, and advocates for a results-based diplomacy.
Implicitly, the author believes that the autonomy option is the only one capable of securing a political compromise that guarantees regional development and of mitigating the risks of destabilisation in the Maghreb and the Sahel.
MK/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA