A significant proportion of Moroccans welcomed the aid provided by the USA to Morocco, saying the aid will support the social development of the Kingdom rather than increase the American influence in the country.
According to a poll by the Arab Barometer on US aid to the Middle East and North Africa, Jordanians ranked first among the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa in favor of increasing American aid, by 69 percent, followed by Sudanese citizens by 63 percent, the Lebanese by 54 percent and then Moroccans ranking fourth by a percentage of 53 in favor of increasing the American aid to the Kingdom.
With a ratio between 48 and 69 percent, the survey indicates most citizens of the countries supported the increasing US aid. However, Libya and Algeria mark the exception in where less than a third expressed a preference for increasing the rates of aid provided by Washington.
Moroccans are considered among the people who do not perceive American aid as an attempt to gain influence in Morocco. The percentage in support of this proposal did not exceed 33 percent, while the highest percentage was recorded in Libya with 69 percent, in Lebanon 63 percent, and in Algeria 55 percent.
The United States of America has been sending aid to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa since 1946. According to the data published by the Arab Barometer the aid is estimated at 346 billion dollars spent on several areas, including military, humanitarian and developmental ones.
The desire of Arab Barometer to increase US aid is partly explained by the fact that many citizens in the Middle East and North Africa believe it is beneficial to their country.
In surveys conducted in 2020-2021, the same source reported that more than 4 out of 10 people in the region uttered that US aid helps advance women’s rights, as the percentage of those expressing this opinion in Morocco reached 41%, and in Lebanon it reached 50%, Tunisia 46 percent, and in Jordan 40 percent.
Despite the latter, many citizens of Middle Eastern and North African countries view Western aid, including the United States, with a skepticism and suspicion; considering that the main motive behind this aid is to gain influence in their country, yet perceptions differ from a country to another.
According to the Arab Barometer poll, 23 percent of Moroccans believed that the main motive for Western aid directed to Morocco is economic development, and 16 percent of them saw it aimed at enhancing internal stability, while 15 percent said it was directed to improving the lives of citizens. 12 percent it aims to strengthen civil society.
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