The UK’s newly formed government has reaffirmed its commitment to the trade agreement with Morocco, dismissing expectations that the new leftist administration might alter its stance.
In a written response to MP Hamish Falconer on August 5, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office made it clear that the government does “not consider commercial activity to be illegal” in Morocco’s Southern Province.
The statement dealt a blow to the Polisario Front, which had hoped that the change in government might lead to a shift in the UK’s position on the Moroccan Sahara.
The government further emphasized its continued support for “UN-led efforts and the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General,” adding that it “encourages constructive engagement with the political process.”
The increasing rapprochement between the two nations in recent years has led to calls from many UK politicians for the government to support Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In May, 30 British parliamentarians from across the political spectrum urged the government to recognize Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan as a solution to the Sahara dispute.
The autonomy initiative, proposed by Morocco, “offers a viable path toward lasting peace and stability,” the letter stated.
With broad support from Western allies and over 80 countries worldwide, the initiative is seen as the most practical and pragmatic path to stability, with the letter emphasizing the need to move beyond the current stalemate.
The growing support among British politicians for Morocco’s territorial integrity is set against a backdrop of thriving economic collaboration between the two countries.
In the post-Brexit era, UK-Morocco bilateral trade has seen significant growth. Since the signing of an agreement in 2021, trade in goods and services between the two nations increased by 50% in 2022, reaching £3.1 billion. The agreement led to a doubling of bilateral trade within just 12 months.
Beyond trade, the two countries are cooperating on a wide range of projects, including the colossal $28 billion Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project, which aims to supply 8% of UK homes with green energy from wind and solar farms in Morocco’s southern regions.