Morocco uses Western Sahara dispute as strategic diplomatic lever

The status of Western Sahara remains a central and complex issue in international politics, serving as a significant lever in Moroccan diplomacy. Since the Spanish withdrawal in 1975, Morocco has maintained control over the territory, facing ongoing independence claims from the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

Analyses suggest that Morocco utilizes the Western Sahara issue to shape its relations with European and United States partners, involving elements such as migration policies, military cooperation, and economic investments. The centralization of power within the Moroccan monarchy, often referred to as the 'Makhzen,' plays a decisive role in these strategic maneuvers. Decision-making is heavily concentrated within the royal palace and security apparatuses, such as the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), which influence the country's geopolitical positioning and its expanding diplomatic and economic ties with nations including Israel.