A substantial portion of the imported phosphate is mined illegally from territories in Western Sahara, which is under occupation by the Moroccan government. A raw power move by US imperialism to gain access to cheaper resources, the decision also represents a stepped-up attack on Sahrawi sovereignty by the Trump administration. In March, three Republican senators introduced legislation to declare the Polisario Front — the government-in-exile and legal representative of Western Sahara — a terrorist organisation. Meanwhile, the proposed FY2027 US military budget includes a 10-year programme with the Moroccan government to promote joint military activities and development of drone-warfare capabilities in Western Sahara. When Spain withdrew from Western Sahara in 1975, the governments of Morocco and Mauritania orchestrated a joint invasion with French support.