The diplomatic relations between the United States and Morocco continue to improve. The latest move by King Mohammed VI of Morocco has further tightened the ties between his country and the United States.
Mohammed VI has decided to rename the Tiznit-Dajla highway that crosses Morocco along its Atlantic coast: from now on it will be called the President Donald J. Trump Highway.
Rabat and Washington Deepen Ties
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, seems to know the U.S. president, Donald Trump, very well. Evidence of this is the excellent diplomatic relationship that the two countries enjoy; this is not new, because Morocco and the United States have gotten along for decades, but the bonds between these two nations are tightening even more since Trump returned to the White House.
It’s no secret that Donald Trump likes to be praised. Mohammed VI understands this, which is why he has just announced that one of Morocco’s main highways, a major artery that connects Tiznit with Dajla along the Atlantic coast, will be renamed the ‘President Donald J. Trump Highway’.
The road spans roughly 1,055 kilometers and crosses the entire Sahara, passing through the most populated urban centers of the region, including its administrative capital, El Aaiún, as well as Bojador.
Nearly 750 kilometers of the highway lie within the borders of Western Sahara, and it is a key piece of infrastructure because it is the only all-terrain freight transport route that connects North Africa (and Europe) with Sub-Saharan Africa.
In part, this highway aims to turn Western Sahara into a commercial hub for sea routes toward the South Atlantic and the Americas. In the process, Rabat seeks to solidify its legitimacy of presence in the region through large investments.
In this way, Mohammed VI expresses gratitude, among other things, for the United States recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara during the closing period of Trump’s first term as U.S. president.
This highway is economically significant for Morocco because it connects its southern provinces with the rest of the country while crossing Western Sahara.
Thus the name given by Mohammed VI is a direct acknowledgment of the gesture Trump made six years ago and a means to consolidate the strategic alliance Rabat and Washington share on the geopolitical level.
“The renaming of the highway in honor of Donald Trump reflects the strength of the bilateral ties between Morocco and the United States. The relationship has grown markedly over the past decades, especially after the historic U.S. decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, one of the central issues in regional policy,” explains the outlet Atalayar.
Trump did not delay in publicly thanking this gesture. He did so with a post on his Truth Social network: “Thanks to the highly respected Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. What a great honor! I hope to one day travel the entire length of this magnificent highway, hopefully soon! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” The post is accompanied by a video showing footage of the highway.
Images | Truth Social
