After France took a clear stance in supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, attention has now turned to the position of Great Britain, a member of the Security Council and a key international player in many global issues.
With the recent election victory of the Labour Party, known for its left-leaning policies, there have been doubts about whether Britain’s traditionally neutral stance will change under the new government.
This is especially true given that some of the party members have, on more than one occasion, “expressed support for the idea of separatism.”
King Mohammed VI had previously sent a congratulatory message to Keir Starmer upon his appointment as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“The Sovereign takes this opportunity to express His deep satisfaction with the distinguished level of close friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two Kingdoms, reaffirming His determination to work together with Starmer to move forward in consolidating the long-standing bonds between both countries, capable of giving fresh momentum to the promising strategic partnership between Morocco and the United Kingdom, and enhancing effective consultation and coordination on various issues of common interest,” reads the message.
Recently, 30 British Members of Parliament from both the Labour and Conservative parties sent a letter to former Foreign Secretary David Cameron, urging the United Kingdom to “provide proactive support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.”
As of now, the new British government has not addressed the issue of the Sahara. Meanwhile, the British media has been closely following “France’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.”
Sherifa Lemouir, a political analyst, stated that “there are many signs indicating that Britain might recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara; one of the most significant is the recent initiative by British MPs.”
Lemouir added in a statement to Hespress that “it would not be surprising to hear of a British recognition soon, especially given the significant role played by Moroccan diplomacy in this matter.”
She further noted that “Morocco’s new approach, which is based on a development plan aimed at achieving an economic leap for the southern provinces, contributes to this.”
The expert added that “this strategy has generated international consensus and support for the national cause, reinforcing Morocco’s right to its territories and refuting separatist claims.”
Lemouir noted that British recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the southern provinces would have “significant weight and provide a strong impetus for many Anglo-Saxon countries to adopt such realistic and decisive positions on the national cause.”
According to MAP, Liam Fox, a British MP, sent a letter to former Foreign Secretary David Cameron last January, emphasizing the need for the UK to adopt a “more effective and supportive stance” on the Sahara issue.
In his letter, the Conservative MP argued that a more active and supportive UK position towards Morocco’s autonomy initiative is essential not only for bilateral relations but also for international peace and cooperation.”
By adopting such a stance, Liam Fox stated, “the UK would be aligning itself more closely with its closest allies; such as the United States, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, who all support the autonomy initiative.”
From his part, Abdelaziz Qraqi, a professor of political science at Mohammed V University in Rabat, stated that “British recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara is merely a matter of time.”
“It could be imminent, more so than we imagine; it is, in general, simply a matter of time awaiting the appropriate timeframe,” he emphasized.
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