King Mohammed VI says decision honours US recognition of Morocco’s Western Sahara position
RABAT: Morocco has officially named its 1,055-kilometre Tiznit-Dakhla Expressway the “Donald J. Trump Highway” in recognition of US President Donald Trump’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty claim over Western Sahara, according to the Moroccan state news agency MAP.
King Mohammed VI informed Trump of the decision in a letter dated July 2, describing relations between Morocco and the United States as particularly strong and productive during Trump’s two presidential terms.
The monarch praised Trump’s 2020 decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, calling it a historic step that would remain firmly remembered by the Moroccan people. Trump later welcomed the announcement on social media, describing the naming as a great honour and expressing hope of travelling the route in the future.
Strategic highway links Morocco with West Africa
The expressway stretches from Tiznit to Dakhla, passing through Guelmim, Tan-Tan and Laayoune before reaching southern Morocco. Authorities describe the project, valued at approximately $1 billion, as Africa’s longest road infrastructure initiative.
Officials say the highway will improve trade, reduce travel times and strengthen transport links between northern and southern Morocco. Additionally, the route forms part of a broader Atlantic corridor connecting Europe with West Africa, enhancing regional commercial integration.
Western Sahara remains central diplomatic issue
The naming also reflects the close diplomatic partnership established during Trump’s first administration. In December 2020, the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara alongside a normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Western Sahara has remained a disputed territory since Spain withdrew in 1975. Morocco administers most of the region, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front continues seeking an independent Sahrawi state.
King Mohammed VI described the highway as both a landmark infrastructure project and a symbol of the enduring strategic partnership between Rabat and Washington, emphasizing its role in strengthening Morocco’s position as a gateway between Europe and Africa.
