Morocco and the UK already had strong ties. A million British tourists are expected to visit the country this year, and our educational partnerships are growing rapidly.
In practical security terms, Morocco is a vital partner in the fight against the growing influence of Russia, its proxies in the Sahel, terrorism, and people trafficking. In Morocco, the UK has a dependable, resourceful ally.
Not only is our partnership important to the security of North Africa and the wider region; following the foreign secretary’s visit last week, it has real life, positive consequences for the British people.
David Lammy has reset our economic and trading relationship with Morocco after over a decade of neglect under the previous government. A pragmatic and common-sense approach, this reset will advance a relationship already worth over £4 billion in trade annually and will unlock opportunities for both British and Moroccan businesses.
UK Export Finance has committed a further £5 billion to support new business in Morocco. UK businesses will be first in the queue to build critical infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup. Britain’s world-renowned pharmaceuticals industry will benefit from the £2 billion transformation of Morocco’s national healthcare system, which will open the door for trade with our leading pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and medical technology sector.
It’s clear that the hollow promises of the previous government have been replaced with a renewed UK foreign policy built on conflict prevention and economic growth.
As co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Morocco, I know that our partnership with Morocco, and its people, must not end there. That’s why the foreign secretary has made the decision to recognise the Autonomy Plan as the most credible basis for resolving the decades-long dispute between Morocco and the Western Sahara independence movement.
Changing the longstanding, historic position of neutrality towards the Western Sahara issue was not a decision that was taken lightly, but one that had to be made in order to protect and progress the rights of both Moroccans and Sahrawis.
Giving Western Sahara a high degree of autonomy over domestic matters, while protecting the right to self-determination and encouraging mutual prosperity, was both a practical and moral step towards a lasting peace and security for civilian populations. The UK joins allies such as the United States, France and Spain in recognising the Autonomy Plan as a potentially pivotal development in the history of this frozen conflict.
The UK is rightly not turning away as thousands of refugees continue to live in ever-worsening humanitarian conditions in the Tindouf refugee camps of Algeria. This plan has the potential to alleviate human suffering, and that is the unshakable bedrock of UK foreign policy under this government.
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