In a significant move highlighting strong ties between Rabat and Washington, Morocco has dedicated a major transportation artery to former United States President Donald Trump. King Mohammed VI’s decision to name an expressway connecting the southern part of the nation to the disputed Western Sahara territory after the former American leader was announced on Saturday by the official Moroccan news agency, MAP.

The Tiznit-Dakhla expressway now officially bears the name “Autoroute Donald J. Trump,” as detailed in a letter dispatched by the King to the American president on July 2nd, which was subsequently made public by MAP.

Acknowledgment of Morocco’s relations with Israel

In his correspondence, King Mohammed VI underscored that this naming serves as a profound expression of gratitude for Trump’s “historic recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty in 2020 over ‘its Sahara’,” an act he stated “will forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans.” The monarch further elaborated, “In homage to this testament of friendship and peace, I have resolved to christen one of the kingdom’s most vital road infrastructures with the name ‘Autoroute Donald J. Trump’.” This impressive infrastructure spans 1,055 kilometers, establishing it as “the longest road infrastructure across all of Africa.”

It was in December 2020 when Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed a Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This diplomatic shift came as part of a broader agreement that saw Morocco normalize its diplomatic relations with Israel. Western Sahara, a vast desert region rich in phosphates and fishing grounds, was a Spanish colony until 1975. While Morocco controls the majority of the territory, the United Nations still classifies it as a non-self-governing territory. For five decades, a conflict has simmered in the region, pitting Rabat against the Polisario Front, which advocates for independence and receives support from Algeria.

Trump’s desire to traverse the highway

In a recent message to King Mohammed VI, commemorating the 27th anniversary of his ascension to the throne this week, President Trump reiterated his unwavering support for Rabat’s proposed plan for Western Sahara. For the United States, the Moroccan proposal remains “the sole foundation for a just and lasting resolution.” Trump asserted that “any other path merely prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable.”

On his Truth Social platform on July 26th, Donald Trump had previously expressed his enthusiasm regarding 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 eagerly anticipate one day traveling the entire length of this magnificent highway, hopefully very soon!” Trump proclaimed, although Rabat had not publicly confirmed the announcement at that time.