Morocco dedicates highway to Donald Trump in gesture of gratitude

An unprecedented diplomatic gesture

The Moroccan monarch announced on August 1st that the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway—one of the kingdom’s most vital infrastructure projects—would be renamed the Donald Trump Highway. This landmark decision was formally communicated through a letter from King Mohammed VI to the former US president dated July 2nd.

Extending over 1,055 kilometers, this highway is not only Morocco’s longest but also the longest road infrastructure in Africa. The king emphasized that this naming honors Trump’s “historic recognition in 2020 of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara”, a move that “will forever be etched in the memory of the Moroccan people.”

A strategic alliance forged in 2020

The tribute follows Trump’s December 2020 decision to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in exchange for the normalization of Moroccan-Israeli relations. The Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich and resource-abundant territory previously under Spanish colonial rule until 1975, remains a disputed region under United Nations consideration as a non-self-governing territory.

In a public message marking the 27th anniversary of his accession to the throne, King Mohammed VI also shared Trump’s renewed endorsement of Rabat’s proposal for Western Sahara. The former US president’s unwavering support was publicly reiterated in his response to the Moroccan monarch’s anniversary communiqué.

Symbolism and implications

This naming ceremony underscores the deep diplomatic ties between Morocco and the United States, particularly under Trump’s administration. It also reflects Morocco’s strategic positioning in North Africa and its ongoing efforts to consolidate international recognition of its territorial claims in Western Sahara.

The highway, which links southern Morocco’s key economic zones, is poised to become a symbol of this historic partnership, blending infrastructure development with geopolitical significance.