US President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 2023 fiscal year on Friday, announced the White House in a statement.
This comes after months of back and forth and a significant push for an amendment to the legislation, particularly regarding military cooperation with Morocco.
Prior to this final officialization, members of the US senate with ties to Polisario separatists’ lobbies demanded US military cooperation with Morocco be conditioned with pro-Polisario decisions from the Moroccan government.
However, the final 2023 copy does not condition military and security cooperation with Morocco on its commitment to open negotiations with Polisario on the future of Morocco’s southern territories.
The adoption of the NDAA 2023 was the subject of an agreement between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The NDAA also did not accept Senator James Inhofe’s proposal to transfer the next edition of the “African Lion” military exercise, away from Morocco.
The politician, a historic defender of the North African separatists, had justified his request last June by the “obstacles” set by the kingdom to reach a settlement that pleases the Polisario.
However, considering the rapprochement of the US and Morocco since the Trump presidential tenure, the amendment request was denied, and the final NDAA draft was approved while maintaining the basis ce of US-Morocco military cooperation.
The US’ recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, made on December 10, 2020, has since remained unchanged.
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