On June 2nd, the United Kingdom issued an explicit endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, reflecting a calculated and strategic realignment of British interests in North Africa. After years of seeming neutrality, the UK is now positioning itself to deepen political ties with the rising regional power that is Morocco, expanding access to markets and resources for British business. Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s recent visit to Rabat, which saw the signing of four bilateral agreements, should not only be seen as a diplomatic advance but also as a pragmatic step to secure influence, investment, and long-term growth for British companies across the continent. As Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita noted, Lammy’s visit was the first of a UK Foreign Secretary since 2011, with London now taking active steps to align its own growth with that of its ally, Morocco, and derivatively, swaths of Africa.
The Autonomy Plan, first proposed by Morocco in 2007, envisions Western Sahara remaining under Moroccan sovereignty while incorporating elements of self-governance. The UK’s endorsement joins similar positions already taken by the United States (in 2020), France (2022), and Spain (2022), and carries distinct diplomatic weight as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Foreign Secretary Lammy in a press release said that the UK endorsed autonomy “as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a mutually agreed and lasting solution to the Western Sahara dispute.” The recognition of the Autonomy Plan increases pressure on other actors who have yet to change their approach to reassess their positions. While the UK’s support does not seek to determine the outcome of the dispute, such a historic step indeed shifts the conditions under which future negotiations will proceed. Critically, it positions the UK as a key player in a region where European, American, and Chinese interests increasingly intersect.
The timing of this announcement is notable for historic reasons as well. 2025 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the 1975 Green March, a date deeply embedded in Moroccan identity when King Hassan II marched into the Sahara to claim it from the Spanish. The alignment of the UK’s political gesture date further embeds its support in a wider historical and regional context. Strategically, the UK recognizes that resolving the Western Sahara dispute carries implications beyond immediate diplomatic gain. The conflict has long impeded regional stability, affecting migration, trade, and security between Europe and North Africa. By endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, the UK signals its commitment to unlocking cooperation that benefits not just the Maghreb, but also European and Commonwealth partners. During the Foreign Secretary’s visit, the UK and Morocco announced over £4 billion in annual bilateral agreements, including surrounding the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Portugal and Spain. Further agreements on advancing sustainable infrastructure and partnerships, the development of ports and airports, as well as procurement and healthcare, were signed as well.
Morocco’s upcoming role as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup is especially interesting. With public procurement opportunities in Morocco estimated at around £33 billion over the next three years, British firms are now positioned to deliver critical infrastructure funding and development. Some highlights of the UK-Morocco Joint Communique include a landmark £1.2 billion project expanding Casablanca Airport, agreements to support Morocco’s national healthcare transformation reforms, worth over £2 billion, and a new £150 million hospital project in Casablanca, where UK finance and clinical expertise will help deliver a 250-bed facility. These development projects offer the potential for long-term gain to both Moroccan and UK firms.
One critical factor in the Western Sahara issue is the region’s rich natural resources of phosphate, important for fertilizers around the world. Historically, geopolitical uncertainty has caused widespread withdrawal of capital and resource development, largely due to ethical and security concerns. The UK’s new stance implicitly acknowledges the importance of such issues, balancing the economic realities with calls for negotiated autonomy that respects the rights and interests of local populations. The UK’s support of Morocco’s plan will allow for a return of investment in natural resources, vital to global flourishing.
The UK’s recognition of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan constitutes a major development in a decades-long conflict and signals a clear articulation of British strategic interest. Foreign Secretary Lammy said, “Africa has one of the greatest growth potentials of any continent—this young, dynamic population makes the continent an engine room for growth.” By shifting from neutrality to engagement, the UK strengthens its international credibility, supports regional peacebuilding, and opens doors for British industry in a market that is increasingly vital to global supply chains. As the 50th anniversary of the Green March approaches, the message is clear: post-Brexit UK has a new agenda to promote regional stability and economic integration in North Africa, a foreign policy strategy meant to pay off in the long run.
