Resumen de The cost of strategic failure in North West Africa
President Donald Trump’s proclamation that the US recognises the sovereignty of the kingdom of Morocco over the disputed territory of the Western Sahara – if it is endorsed by his successor, comforts Morocco because it could encourage other states to follow suit. The unresolved Western Sahara conflict has accelerated the arms race in North Africa and cost a loss of annual GDP growth of more than 2 % annually.
Trump’s decision caught the European Union off guard and demonstrated, yet again, its lack of strategic vision about a region which is vital for its security, particularly that of three of its members, Spain, Italy and France. To have an Africa policy worthy of the name, the EU needs a bolder North African policy.
The EU’s position remains fully aligned with that of the UN Security Council which supports negotiations to resolve ongoing conflicts, but this has not stopped it signing trade and fishing agreements with Morocco despite the European Court of Justice ruling in 2018 that any such agreement must not include the territory of, or indeed impact any other rights of the Saharawi people.
