Moroccan King Names Highway After Trump

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI honors Donald Trump by naming a highway after him, linking the country’s claims over Western Sahara.

A letter from Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has confirmed the country’s decision to name a major highway after former U.S. President Donald Trump. The monarch’s announcement follows a social media post where Trump expressed gratitude for the honor, although it lacked an official confirmation at the time from Moroccan authorities.

The highway, previously known as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway, is significant as it traverses Western Sahara, a territory Morocco claims as its own. This region is currently under contention, with parts controlled by both Moroccan forces and the Polisario Front, an armed group advocating for the independence of the local Sahrawi people.

In a letter dated 2 July and made public over the weekend, King Mohammed commended Trump’s actions, particularly the United States’ recognition of Morocco’s claims over the disputed region during Trump’s presidency in 2020. The king remarked that this recognition would remain “etched in the memory of Moroccans, from generation to generation.”

“Although our relations have always been rooted in close friendship and constant loyalty, they have never been as vigorous and fruitful as during your two presidential terms,” the monarch added in his letter.

This 1,055km (655 mile) highway is described by King Mohammed as a “strategic axis” that connects the northern and southern regions of Morocco. The Moroccan government refers to Western Sahara as its “southern provinces” and has consistently asserted its sovereignty there.

Western Sahara, once a Spanish colony, has been embroiled in conflict for over five decades. The United Nations classifies it as a “non-self-governing territory” and has advocated for various solutions to the ongoing dispute, including a referendum that has yet to take place for its indigenous inhabitants.

While the African Union acknowledges the right to independence of Western Sahara, some European nations, including the UK and Spain, have previously taken positions that support Morocco’s offer of autonomy rather than full independence for the region.

In his recent Truth Social post about the highway’s renaming, Trump noted its nearly $1 billion (£740 million) construction cost, stating, “I look forward to traveling the entire length of this great highway someday, hopefully soon!”