Trump hails Morocco's king as 'pillar of stability', reaffirms Western Sahara claim and calls Spain's Ceuta response a 'catastrophe'
While Washington hails Rabat as its oldest ally, the White House has sharply criticised Madrid over the entry of tens of thousands of migrants into Ceuta, exposing a widening rift in US policy towards the western Mediterranean.
A message of praise for the king
On the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's enthronement, President Donald Trump sent a congratulatory telegram that went far beyond ceremonial courtesy. He described the monarch's 'wise leadership' as 'a pillar of stability' and declared that the United States 'recognises Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara'. The Moroccan autonomy proposal, he said, is 'a serious, credible and realistic' plan and 'the only basis for a just and lasting solution'.
The United States is clear: we recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and support the Moroccan proposal of a serious, credible and realistic autonomy as the only basis for a just and lasting solution.
Trump warned that any alternative would prolong an unacceptable status quo. 'This conflict must end now, and the United States will continue to drive progress toward this goal,' he added. The message, carried by Morocco's official MAP news agency, also instructed his team to work for the economic and social development of Morocco, including the Western Sahara region.
The Ceuta crisis and the rift with Spain
The congratulatory note landed one day after Trump had lashed out at Spain over the sudden arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. On 30 July, between 50,000 and 60,000 people crossed from Moroccan territory, according to Spanish sources cited in the press. At least 67 deaths were reported. Morocco has so far remained silent on the events.
Trump called it "the catastrophe that took place" and described it as "an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people". The State Department issued a statement blaming the Spanish government for "deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe", while the White House attributed the crisis to radical left-wing policies. The sharp contrast between the warmth shown to Rabat and the hostility directed at Madrid has drawn attention to what Spanish commentators describe as a double standard in Trump's foreign policy.
A 250-year-old alliance
On 26 July Trump posted a video on Truth Social thanking the king for naming a 1,055-kilometre highway after him, running from Tiznit down the coast to Laayoune and Dakhla in Western Sahara. Rabat has not confirmed the naming and no official Moroccan announcement has appeared, so the claim rests on Trump's own account. The road opened in January after a decade of construction and cost about $1 billion. The video recounts the deep historical roots of the bilateral relationship: Morocco was the first country to recognise the independence of the United States, in 1777, and the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship established what remains the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in American history.
For two and a half centuries, friendship, trust and dialogue have united Morocco and the United States. It is proof that when two nations united by friendship and a shared vision choose to act for peace, nothing can stand in the way of prosperity.
The Abraham Accords anchor
A turning point came in December 2020, during the final weeks of Trump's first term, when Morocco normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. In exchange, the United States recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Trump's latest message explicitly ties the current partnership to that deal, praising Morocco's 'fundamental role in the Abraham Accords' and pledging joint work to secure the Sahel region.
Morocco's constant commitment to work for peace, combat extremism and protect the security of Americans and Moroccans, including through its fundamental role in the Abraham Accords, reflects a valuable alliance for the United States.
What comes next
Trump's message outlined a forward-looking agenda: US technology and innovation would remain partners of Morocco 'for the next 250 years' in strategic sectors including energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defence. He spoke of 'a new era of relations' in which the interests of both countries would be treated as a priority. The statement made no mention of the Ceuta deaths or of any diplomatic effort to de-escalate the border crisis, leaving the rift with Spain unaddressed.
- Morocco becomes the first nation to recognise the independence of the United States.
- The Treaty of Peace and Friendship is signed, beginning what remains the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in US history.
- The US recognises Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; Morocco joins the Abraham Accords and normalises relations with Israel.
- King Mohammed VI marks the 27th anniversary of his enthronement; the Ceuta migration crisis erupts as tens of thousands of Moroccans cross into the Spanish enclave.
- President Trump sends a congratulatory message to the king, reiterating US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and praising the bilateral partnership.
