US-China tensions and Trump's return could prompt Morocco to rethink its neutrality, report

A new report from the Washington-based think tank, the Atlantic Council, suggests that “Morocco could review its strategy of equidistance between China and the United States” as tensions grow between the two powers, particularly with Trump returning to the White House.

It explained that “Trump working with the Republican-controlled Congress to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), from which Morocco benefited, or restrict the policy could make the Kingdom less tempting for China, and thus result in fewer investments.”

The same source underscored that Trump’s actions regarding the IRA may “impact Morocco’s place on Washington’s map,” as the said policy has encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Morocco to maintain access to U.S. markets.

It was “a winning system that promoted job creation in Morocco,” facilitated technology transfers, and strengthened its position as a key player in Africa’s green industry.

However, with China now Africa’s leading trading partner, boasting a trade volume five times that of the United States, the report highlighted that “how Trump approaches the Moroccan partnership will say a lot about his intentions for Africa.”

It also noted that, regardless of Trump’s strategy in the Middle East, Morocco will remain central to his plans, even though the kingdom, under King Mohammed VI, has already carved out a future role for itself well beyond the region.

The same source suggested that “Washington may follow France’s lead in deepening ties with Morocco and leveraging its growing influence in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region.”

It also stated that the US may be required to coordinate with Morocco on the new initiative launched by King Mohammed VI in November 2023, an ambitious plan aimed at facilitating Sahel countries’ access to the Atlantic Ocean through large-scale development projects.

The report argued that the US and Morocco also have “opportunities to collaborate on addressing the drug trade” that traverses South America and the Sahel, which is increasingly linked to terrorist activities in the region.

It emphasized that “how the Trump administration approaches these Atlantic projects will determine the direction of the United States’ relationship with Morocco because of Rabat’s central role in these initiatives.”