The US House of Representatives passed a new compromise defense policy bill and sent it to the Senate on Tuesday, endorsing President Joe Biden’s defense budget request for the year and including a clause limiting support to Moroccan military forces for multilateral exercises.
The clause states that “none of the funds authorized by this Act or otherwise for the Department of Defense for 2022 may be used to support the participation of the military forces of the Kingdom of Morocco in any multilateral exercise administered by the Department of Defense.”
This limiting clause is conditioned by “the Kingdom of Morocco’s commitment to seeking a mutually acceptable political solution in Western Sahara,” left at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State.
Following the main clause in the bill is a waiver clause, stipulating that the limitation may be disregarded if “the Secretary of Defence submits to the congressional defense committees a written determination and justification” for a waiver, due to its “importance to the national security interests of the United States.”
The House voted 363-70 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, which was finalized this Monday, December 6 by negotiators with the House and Senate Armed Services committees. The “no” votes came from 19 Republicans and 51 Democrats.
The bill was submitted to the Senate this Tuesday, it requires a minimum of 60 votes to pass, and will most likely be subject to a vote following winter break, which starts this Friday.
Back in November, the Biden administration had previously rejected a significantly more limiting proposal from Senator Jack Reed, to fully cut funding for military cooperation programs with Morocco conditional on “its agreement to reach peace with Western Sahara.”
The White House responded, saying that this request could negatively impact the commitments of the Department of Defense, including the diplomatic aspect of its cooperation with its international partners.
If the current bill passes the Senate, the president can veto it, passing the bill again in each chamber with at least two-thirds of each body voting in favor, or against it.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had said last week that his country’s efforts are currently “focused on supporting the efforts of the United Nations envoy to the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and furthering the UN process to reach a solution to the conflict.”
Blinken assured that Biden’s administration is adamant on “continuing on the same approach,” emphasizing that the incumbent president is “going forward with the issue, talking to all parties involved.”
U.S a big supporter of Morocco!!! It was just trick to put you under the Zionists authority; the gain NOTHING JUST HUMILIATION