Much of the highway runs along the coast of Western Sahara, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. (@democracynow) July 31, 2026“Any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable… This conflict must end now and the United States will continue to drive progress towards this goal,” the message continues. The US president insists on his willingness to work “for economic and social development with Morocco, including in the territory of Western Sahara.” “Reliable American technology and innovation will continue to serve as partners (of Morocco),” he adds, “in all strategic sectors, particularly energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and defense.” Rabat and Washington have been experiencing a diplomatic honeymoon since Morocco normalized its relations with Israel in 2020 in exchange for the United States recognizing its sovereignty over Western Sahara.