American Think Tank: Morocco is key partner for US security in West Africa

American think tank Heritage Foundation has called on Washington to expand cooperation with Morocco, given its strategic location and military strength, in order to secure and strengthen regional security in West Africa.

In a report, titled “Resetting U.S. West Africa Policy,”  the foundation said that Morocco stands out as a particularly promising country for expanding US regional partnerships in the region.

The report added that the Trump administration has significantly strengthened relations between Rabat and Washington by brokering a historic agreement that resulted in US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. 

These political milestones, coupled with Morocco’s strong military capabilities, its extensive cooperation in the fight against terrorism, and its strategic location along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, confirm that Morocco is a central axis for US security efforts in North and West Africa.

The same source noted that the African Lion exercises, which are the largest for the US command on the African continent, are a security testament to the enduring friendship between the two countries. 

The foundation stressed that moving the headquarters of AFRICOM to Rabat, as requested by US Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), could significantly enhance Washington’s crisis response capabilities and achieve regional deterrence. 

This means that the next administration after the elections should capitalize on the trust that has been built between the two countries to negotiate extensively with Morocco in line with the strategic regional objectives of both states.

The Heritage report said that America’s reliance on traditional countries for its extensive partnerships makes it vulnerable to disruption, gives opportunities to rivals of US policy, and undermines its interests in the long run, noting that “the Niger setback is pushing America to rethink its goals in West Africa.”

In this regard, the report stressed that Morocco and Mauritania constitute adaptable and sustainable partnerships that can strengthen regional stability and security in West Africa.

To secure US interests, Washington should prioritize establishing and nurturing partnerships with strong countries that share similar common interests with it in other parts of the African continent. 

Achieving this goal requires partner countries that have the qualifications, stability, and political will to engage in this matter, and that are also influential in the region over the long term.

The American think tank said that Morocco can be a mediator to dispel any potential concerns that may arise between Washington and its European allies in the region.

The report concluded that “achieving these efforts requires action from the US Department of Defense to update its plans for America’s position in the region, as well as from the US Congress to provide all the necessary means and remove bureaucratic obstacles.”