Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 1, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe UK endorses Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, joining the US and France. The plan is seen as a viable solution to the conflict.
By Ahmed Eljechtimi
RABAT (Reuters) -Britain's foreign minister, David Lammy, said on Sunday that the UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara.
The long-frozen conflict pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert territory.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 after talks with Morocco's foreign minister.
"The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict," Lammy said on a visit to Rabat.
The position places Britain as the third permanent U.N. Security Council member to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following the United States and France.
Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, hailed the UK's position as historic, saying it was part of "a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict."UK investments in the territory were under examination, Bourita said.
The two countries signed deals to cooperate in healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure and procurement.
Lammy said the deals would "ensure British businesses score big on football's biggest stage," as Morocco pushes for infrastructure investment in preparation for the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
(Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi, Editing by William Maclean)
The UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara, according to Foreign Minister David Lammy.
The UK joins the United States and France as the third permanent U.N. Security Council member to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
The two countries signed deals to cooperate in various sectors, including healthcare, innovation, port and water infrastructure, and procurement.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy stated that the UK will continue to act bilaterally to support the resolution of the conflict, which may enhance economic ties and investments in the region.
Morocco aims to leverage UK investments to enhance its infrastructure in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup.
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