In a significant gesture of diplomatic appreciation, Morocco has officially dedicated a major expressway to Donald Trump. This decision, spearheaded by King Mohammed VI, sees a vital highway connecting the southern regions of the kingdom to the disputed territory of Western Sahara now bearing the name of the former United States President. The move was publicly announced on Saturday by the official Moroccan news agency MAP.
Specifically, the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway has been christened the “Donald J. Trump Highway.” This designation was formally communicated through a letter sent by King Mohammed VI to the American leader on July 2nd, detailing the monarch’s rationale.
Acknowledging Morocco’s ties with Israel
In his correspondence, King Mohammed VI underscored that this naming serves as a profound expression of gratitude for Trump’s “historic recognition in 2020 of Morocco’s sovereignty over ‘its Sahara.'” The King emphasized that this pivotal decision “will forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans.” He further articulated, “As a tribute to this testament of friendship and peace, I have resolved to name one of the kingdom’s most crucial road infrastructures the ‘Donald J. Trump Highway’.” The King also highlighted the impressive scale of the project, noting that the 1,055-kilometer road stands as “the longest road infrastructure in all of Africa.”
It was in December 2020 that Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This diplomatic breakthrough was part of a broader agreement that also saw Morocco normalize its relations with Israel. Western Sahara, a vast desert region rich in phosphates and abundant fishing waters, was a Spanish colony until 1975. While largely controlled by Morocco, the United Nations still classifies it as a non-self-governing territory. For five decades, Rabat has been embroiled in a conflict with the Polisario Front independence movement, which receives support from Algeria.
Trump’s desire to traverse the highway
In a message addressed to King Mohammed VI for the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, also made public by MAP on Saturday, Donald Trump reaffirmed his unwavering support for Rabat’s proposal regarding Western Sahara. For the United States, the Moroccan plan remains “the sole foundation for a just and lasting solution.” Trump asserted that “any other path merely perpetuates the status quo and is unacceptable.”
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Donald Trump had previously expressed his enthusiasm on July 26th about King Mohammed VI’s decision to name a highway in Western Sahara after him. “Thank you to His Royal Highness Mohammed VI. […] What an immense honor! I look forward to one day traveling the full length of this great highway, I hope it will be soon!” Trump posted, though Rabat had not publicly confirmed the announcement at that time.
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