The United Kingdom has re-emerged as a focal point of discussion among European nations, with expectations that it may follow France’s lead and announce an advanced position in favor of Morocco regarding the Sahara issue.
This expectation is bolstered by several factors that make the UK the most likely candidate, particularly in light of its Supreme Court ruling that agreements signed between London and Rabat, including those covering the Sahara, do not violate any British laws in this context.
Expectations for the UK to adopt an advanced stance on the Sahara issue have increased recently following the "historic" state visit by President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco from October 28 to 30, as described by the French press. During the visit, Macron reaffirmed France’s support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, explicitly stating: "For France, the present and future of the Sahara fall under Moroccan sovereignty."
Coinciding with this visit, Andrew Morrison, a Conservative MP in the House of Commons (the British lower house), was among the voices calling explicitly for the UK to take a stance similar to that of its allies, Paris and Washington, on the Sahara issue. He argued that the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco to resolve the regional conflict over its territorial integrity represents "the only credible option" for a final solution to this issue.
According to the Moroccan News Agency, Morrison, who has held various ministerial positions including in defense, noted that France, the United States, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, and many other countries in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond support Morocco’s autonomy plan. He described it as "the sole basis" for resolving this long-standing, fabricated conflict.
Morrison believes, according to the same source, that British support for Morocco’s autonomy plan is "essential" for the UK to strengthen its relationship with Morocco, which dates back more than eight centuries. He pointed out that recent developments and the evolving global geopolitical landscape render the current UK position "unacceptable and inconsistent" with the UK's national interests.
Although the UK's current stance remains "neutral," certain signs and developments indicate that London is leaning more towards supporting Morocco on the Sahara issue. One such sign is the endorsement by the current UK government, led by Keir Starmer, in August of the trade partnership agreement between the UK and Morocco, which includes the Sahara region.
This position was revealed through the official website of the British House of Lords, where the new UK government responded to a question submitted by MP Ben Lake to the Foreign Secretary, inquiring whether he had held discussions with his Moroccan counterpart regarding trade in natural resources sourced from the Sahara.
The response from the British Foreign Office, via Labour MP Hamish Falconer, stated: "We do not consider commercial activity in Western Sahara to be illegal as long as it respects the interests of the Sahrawi people," adding that the UK continues to support the efforts of the United Nations and its envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and "we continue to encourage constructive participation in the political process."
This response from the new British government indicates its continued commitment to a neutral position, albeit with a tilt towards maintaining trade relations with Morocco that include the Sahara. Therefore, any change in the UK’s stance on the Sahara issue in favor of the Polisario, as the latter had hoped, is not expected.
