Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy has declared the UK’s formal endorsement of Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal as the “most credible and pragmatic” solution to the decades-old conflict over Western Sahara.
Speaking during a high-profile diplomatic visit to Rabat on Sunday, Lammy said that London views Morocco’s plan as the “most feasible basis” for a lasting resolution to the long-running standoff between Morocco and the Polisario Front, an Algeria-backed separatist movement.
Lammy stressed the UK’s intention to work bilaterally and multilaterally to support the autonomy initiative, aligning London with Washington and Paris, both of which have previously endorsed Morocco’s position.
“The autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute,” Lammy told reporters.
The move comes at a time when Morocco is intensifying its diplomatic push for international backing on the Western Sahara issue a region rich in phosphate reserves and potentially offshore oil, but mired in decades of conflict and U.N. mediation stalemates.
Strategic, Economic, and Sporting Ties
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hailed the UK’s support as a “historic shift”, signaling accelerating momentum for a solution. He also revealed that UK investments in Western Sahara are under review, including ventures tied to infrastructure and renewable energy.
The visit concluded with bilateral agreements on healthcare, innovation, and water infrastructure, underscoring deepening UK-Morocco economic ties particularly ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
“These agreements will ensure British businesses score big on football’s biggest stage,” Lammy said, highlighting Britain’s commercial interests in Morocco’s growing infrastructure portfolio.
With this stance, the UK now joins a small but powerful bloc of global actors backing Morocco’s vision, further isolating the Polisario cause diplomatically.
