Senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, Massad Boulos reaffirmed Washington’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan in the Sahara during a high-level visit to Algeria on July 27, drawing a firm line in the region’s most contentious diplomatic rift.
Speaking to El Watan following talks with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, Boulos reiterated that the United States sees the Moroccan proposal as “the only realistic and credible basis” for resolving the decades-old conflict.
The visit, part of a Maghreb tour focused largely on regional stability and security cooperation, coincided with renewed Algerian criticism of US positions on the Sahara issue.
While Algeria continues to advocate for a UN-supervised referendum and the right to self-determination for the Sahrawi people, Boulos stressed that Washington’s position is “clear and unambiguous.”
He cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent statement recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the territory and endorsing autonomy under Moroccan rule as the “only viable solution.”
“I welcomed the opportunity to directly engage with President Tebboune and Minister Attaf to discuss our shared commitment to a peaceful resolution, long overdue,” said Boulos, adding that the US encourages immediate negotiations using Morocco’s autonomy plan as the sole framework.
Although Boulos acknowledged Algeria’s role in Sahel security and counterterrorism, emphasizing its “essential contributions to regional stability,” the divergent stances on the Sahara appeared to overshadow broader cooperation efforts.
The timing of the visit, weeks after Trump imposed 30% tariffs on Algerian imports, further strained an already cautious bilateral relationship.
Boulos defended the trade measure as part of a broader economic strategy to address America’s trade deficit, and maintained that the US remains committed to strengthening economic ties with Algeria on a reciprocal and equitable basis.
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