Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, known for his critical stance on Morocco’s claims of sovereignty over the Sahara, has publicly dismissed calls from certain Republican factions advocating for the designation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. This information was reported by Spanish media sources. During an interview on Radio Exterior de España’s Hora América program, Bolton expressed that he has been engaged with the Polisario Front for over 35 years and has never encountered any substantiated evidence linking the group to terrorism. Furthermore, he refuted claims suggesting any connections between the Polisario Front and Iran or other Islamist movements.
This statement from Bolton comes at a time when there is an increasing push within the United States to label the Algeria-supported Polisario Front as a terrorist entity. Prominent U.S. senators have recently introduced legislation calling on the State Department to evaluate the group’s alleged associations with Iran and its regional allies. Additionally, last month, Monica Ager Jacobsen, a senior official in the State Department’s counterterrorism division, indicated that the U.S. has commenced a classified intelligence review concerning potential links between the Polisario Front and groups aligned with Iran.
In his discourse, Bolton also attempted to minimize Morocco’s burgeoning influence in the Mediterranean region, asserting that it would be inaccurate to suggest that Morocco could supplant Spain's longstanding strategic role in the area. He emphasized that Spain has historically been regarded as an Atlantic power. Moreover, Bolton characterized the ongoing debate in Spain regarding the limitation of U.S. military operations at bases in Rota and Morón as a significant miscalculation. He warned that such actions could provoke adverse reactions from Washington, particularly amidst rising tensions with Tehran, and contribute to a broader decline in the perception of NATO under Trump’s administration.
Bolton’s comments reflect a growing concern in Spain regarding the potential repositioning of U.S. military assets to Morocco. Notably, the Rota base accommodates approximately 2,800 troops and five destroyers, which are integral to Europe’s missile defense strategy.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
