The Strategic Gift from Morocco to Donald Trump
This past Sunday, Donald Trump received an impressive gift from King Mohammed VI of Morocco in the form of a newly constructed highway spanning 1,055 kilometers. This expansive roadway runs along the Atlantic coast from Tiznit in southern Morocco to Dakhla in Western Sahara, passing through key cities such as Laayoune. This territory, administered by Rabat, is still recognized by much of the international community as disputed, although the United States has already acknowledged Moroccan sovereignty over the region. This initiative to honor Trump comes at a crucial time for Morocco, as the nation aims to ensure that the 2030 World Cup final is hosted in its newly constructed grand stadium in Casablanca rather than in Spain.
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that the highway would be named "President Donald J. Trump Highway," sharing a nearly four-minute video that described the roadway as "the highway of peace for prosperity." The video features aerial footage showcasing the desert landscapes, Atlantic coastline, and the future maritime port in Dakhla, highlighting a region that Morocco considers an integral part of its territory—an area recognized as Moroccan by the U.S. but still regarded as undergoing decolonization by the United Nations.
In his post, Trump expressed gratitude, stating, "Thanks to the very respected Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. What a great honor! I hope to travel this great highway someday, hopefully soon." This message was pinned at the top of his account, which is a common practice for Trump when sharing significant announcements.
Implications of the Highway and Diplomatic Relationships
Trump has consistently shown interest in projects and infrastructure that bear his name. Last year, there was a proposal to name a strategic 43-kilometer corridor in Armenia after him, intended to connect Azerbaijan with the enclave of Nakhchivan and reduce Russian and Iranian influence in the Caucasus. However, the significance of the Moroccan highway extends beyond mere flattery, as it connects internationally recognized Moroccan territory with Laayoune and Dakhla, two major urban centers in Western Sahara. This highway is not entirely new; it is the result of the doubling and expansion of a national road along the coast, a project valued at approximately 900 million euros, initiated in 2015 and now nearing completion.
By naming this highway after Trump, Morocco aims to solidify the recognition of its claim over Western Sahara that Trump himself acknowledged during the last days of his first term in office. In December 2020, Trump broke decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a decision that was part of a broader agreement normalizing relations between Morocco and Israel. The decision shifted the U.S. stance from viewing Morocco's autonomy plan as a potential solution to presenting it as the only realistic basis for resolving the conflict.
The United Nations has listed Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory since 1963, with the UN mission established in 1991 retaining a reference to the referendum that was supposed to allow Sahrawis to choose between independence and integration into Morocco. Currently, Morocco controls most of the territory, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, continues to advocate for independence. In Spain, until Pedro Sánchez's administration began to engage with Morocco in 2022, both the PP and PSOE maintained a similar stance, supporting the UN process without recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Morocco has been working diligently to secure a prominent position in the foreign policy landscape of Trump's second term. In January, King Mohammed VI agreed to become a founding member of the Peace Board established by the U.S. president. Morocco, alongside Bahrain, was one of the first countries to sign the founding charter of the organization, which was initially designed to support the Gaza plan but to which Trump aspires to assign broader competencies in various conflicts. Morocco also joined the Abraham Accords to recognize Israel, along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan.
In April, the U.S. Administration showcased Morocco as a digital gateway to the continent during the GITEX Africa technology fair held in Marrakech. American companies in IT, artificial intelligence, data centers, and cybersecurity have increased their presence in the country, which offers stability, access to Africa, a free trade agreement with the United States, and a strategic position between the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
While Trump expressed gratitude to Mohammed VI for the highway bearing his name, his relationship with Spain is facing significant challenges. During the recent NATO summit in Ankara, Trump referred to Spain as a "terrible partner" and instructed his Treasury Secretary to prepare for the suspension of bilateral trade. Trump criticized Sánchez for his reluctance to increase military spending to five percent of GDP and for not facilitating the use of Spanish bases and airspace during the conflict with Iran.
The campaign has now extended into the sports arena, as Morocco, Spain, and Portugal are set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. This joint bid was unanimously approved by the 211 national federations of FIFA in December 2024. The three countries will host a staggering 101 matches, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will each hold one match to celebrate the centenary of the tournament.
Spain will utilize the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid and the Camp Nou in Barcelona, while Morocco is constructing the Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, expected to accommodate 115,000 spectators and slated for completion by December 2027. This project has been designed from the outset to compete for the final match, which is a matter of national importance for Morocco. Construction is ongoing around the clock with thousands of workers and a centralized political structure under the direction of the Moroccan federation and the king's team. The Moroccan bid is not just reliant on the stadium's capacity but also on a well-executed diplomatic operation directed at Africa, Asia, the Arab nations, and FIFA leadership.
Reports from Spain, including those from The Objective, indicate that Rabat claims to already have 22 of the 37 votes in the FIFA Council. Allegedly, Morocco has garnered support from representatives in Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania, as well as endorsements from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. They have also leveraged their relationship with the Trump Administration to solidify part of this bloc. FIFA has yet to confirm this tally or announce where the final will be held. The Council is indeed composed of 37 members, including its president, Gianni Infantino, but any figures regarding committed votes should currently be regarded as part of the ongoing influence battle.
The president of the Spanish Federation, Rafael Louzán, has argued that the final should be held in Spain because the project originated as an Iberian bid, to which Morocco later joined. However, this historical argument competes with a more disciplined Moroccan campaign, backed by a larger stadium and a network of African and Arab support. Ultimately, while Trump does not decide the host for the 2030 World Cup and the U.S. does not hold the necessary votes alone, his influence could prove crucial for Morocco. The relationship between Trump and Infantino has been particularly close during the 2026 World Cup, and Rabat is keenly aware that access to the White House, including the highway tribute, offers visibility in an organization where politics, business, and sports are constantly intertwined.
As reported by lavozdegalicia.es.
