Morocco names highway after Trump in honor of Western Sahara recognition

In the letter, King Mohammed VI praised Trump's "historic recognition... of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara," stating it would be "forever etched in the memory of Moroccans." This recognition, made in 2020 during Trump's administration, was part of a deal that also saw Morocco normalize relations with Israel. The King described the highway as a "strategic axis" linking the north and south of Morocco, which refers to Western Sahara as its "southern provinces."

Trump had previously thanked the King on social media for the honor, noting the highway's construction cost nearly $1 billion and expressing a desire to travel its length. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the UN, and its status has been a subject of conflict for decades. While the UN advocates for a resolution including a referendum, the African Union recognizes Western Sahara's independence, and some European nations have recently backed Morocco's plan for autonomy.