All wars and conflicts experience watershed moments offering new opportunities for the sides involved to decide whether to continue the bloody journey leading to nowhere,or choose the path of peace and compromise.
In October,the UN Security Council will hold a pivotal meeting on the Sahara conflict as the United States,France and the United Kingdom join efforts to close definitely this five-decade long issue on the basis of the realistic Autonomy Plan offered by Morocco under its sovereignty.
However,as the decisive deadline draws closer,the deceptive Algerian military regime intensifies maneuvers. Its goal is not to reverse U.S. recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory but to maintain status quo or defer as far as possible the resolution of the conflict in favor of the North African Kingdom.
The ultimate objective of the geriatric Algerian rulers is personal survival at all costs irrespective of the immense and ruinous long-term damage that they are inflicting on the state. They risk trials for the crimes committed during the bloody “Black decade” still haunting Algerians.
According to some analysts,conceding defeat in the Sahara issue means the end of the ruling junta and accountability for squandering over $500 billion petrodollars over a lost cause and for scapegoating –for years– neighboring Morocco for their economic,political,and social failures.
The Algerian regime has already weaponized gas supplies against Spain and other European countries after their support for Morocco’s autonomy plan. But the blackmail tactics used to get political gains failed. Yet,the Algerian regime is resorting again to the same stratagem offering “shale gas for Western Sahara” deal.
According to press reports,Algeria is close to finalizing a deal with American giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron to tap its vast natural gas reserves,including shale,located in eastern Sahara.
The move is seen as a desperate attempt to prevent Morocco from retrieving its Eastern Saharan territory as Algerian leaders realize they have lost the “Western” Sahara bet and ambitions of reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The proposed Algerian deal also aims at softening the U.S. position on the Sahara,avoiding the designation of the Polisario as a terrorist organization and keeping the Sahara listed on the UN Security Council agenda.
Some experts say it is very likely that American corporations seize the opportunities offered in the Algerian shale gas sector. But U.S. engagement with Algeria will NOT be made to the detriment of Washington’s strategic partnership with Rabat.
In 2020,President Donald Trump announced U.S. recognition of Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory,commending the Autonomy plan proposed by the North African Kingdom as the ONLY realistic solution to the Sahara issue. The Biden administration has maintained the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara.
After his return to the White House,Trump,his Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his presidential envoy Massad Boulos have all reiterated America’s steadfast backing and irreversible position.
This reduces the margin of maneuver of Algeria which has strained relations with all Sahel countries,France,Russia,Mauritania,UAE,Saudi Arabia,Syria and several other countries.
The relationship between Morocco and the United States dates back to 1777. It is based on deep and strong security,military,economic,diplomatic,and multilateral cooperation. Morocco is the only country having an FTA with the United States.
Washington supports Morocco’s Dakhla Atlantic port project,the royal initiative offering Atlantic access to Sahel countries,and the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline project,or the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline.
The latest American decision of redirecting U.S. shipping routes from Algeciras port in Spain to Moroccan Tanger-Med port shows the strategic importance of Morocco for the United States in global maritime shipping and trading.
Morocco’s geostrategic position,political stability,and growing influence across the African continent make the Kingdom a reliable partner and strategic hub in the New World Order taking shape,contrary to the unpredictable,irresponsible,and delusional Algerian military regime.
United News - unews.co.za