Steadfast Gulf Position on the Moroccan Sahara
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries commend the recent decision of the United Nations Security Council, Resolution 2703, issued last October, regarding the Moroccan Sahara
During the concluding statement of the forty-fourth summit of the Supreme Council for GCC countries held in Doha on Tuesday, the Gulf leaders expressed their unwavering support for the Moroccan Sahara and the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, emphasizing the renewed strengthening of relations between the two sides. They once again affirmed the consistent stance of the Gulf states on the Sahara issue.
This support simultaneously reflects alignment in positions and perspectives with the approach of Western monarch King Mohammed VI to resolving the conflict in the Sahara, according to the proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
The participating leaders in the summit held in Doha, under the presidency of Qatar, emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between the GCC and the Kingdom of Morocco and the implementation of the joint action plan. They also praised United Nations Security Council Resolution 2703, issued on October 30th last year, regarding the Moroccan Sahara.
The international resolution strengthens the strategic choice of King Mohammed VI in favor of negotiation and peaceful settlement of conflicts and the approach of extending a helping hand.
The Gulf support for Resolution 2703 signifies endorsement of the Moroccan king’s initiative to resolve the Sahara conflict and the unwavering and non-negotiable national stance of the Kingdom on this issue.
This is not the first time that leaders of the GCC countries have declared their support for the Moroccan Sahara. Over the years, Gulf summits have consistently expressed support in their concluding statements or in the statements of their leaders for the territorial unity of the Kingdom of Morocco and emphasized their strategic relations with Morocco.
The relationship between the two parties has gained significant momentum since King Mohammed VI ascended the throne, succeeding his late father, King Hassan II, and worked to elevate it to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
In the past year, the Supreme Council of the GCC, and before that in December 2021, reiterated its firm positions and supportive decisions regarding the Moroccan Sahara, aiming to maintain the security and stability of the Moroccan Kingdom and the unity of its territories. At that time, they praised United Nations Security Council Resolution 2602, issued on October 29, 2021, regarding the Moroccan Sahara.
In 2016, GCC leaders supported Morocco in a dispute with the United Nations during the tenure of the late Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who at that time showed bias towards the separatist Polisario Front’s proposals and departed from the principle of neutrality mandated by international charters and norms, as well as the laws and charters of the United Nations.
The Gulf support for Morocco came at a time described as the worst diplomatic crisis over the Sahara issue since the ceasefire agreement in 1990, an agreement that the Polisario Front violated on more than one occasion.
At that time, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, when welcoming Moroccan King Mohammed VI, said, “I would like to confirm, in my name and on behalf of my brothers, our keenness for our relationship with your fraternal country (Morocco) to be at the highest level in various political, economic, security, and other aspects. We affirm our solidarity and support for all political and security issues that concern your fraternal country, foremost among them the issue of the Moroccan Sahara and our rejection of any interference with the highest interests of Morocco.”
The leaders of the GCC countries reaffirm on every official occasion and in their summits the confirmation of this steadfast and deeply rooted position, which reflects a close relationship with Morocco that is not affected by geopolitical changes.
In their concluding statement in the Doha summit, the Supreme Council for GCC congratulated the Kingdom of Morocco on the adoption of the International Football Federation (FIFA) Council for Morocco’s bid, alongside Spain and Portugal, to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
