The former UK politician has been part of a growing list of politicians calling for labeling Polisario as a terrorist organization.
RABAT – Liam Fox, former UK Secretary of State for Defence and International Trade, has praised the growing momentum in UK-Morocco relations, highlighting the potential for deeper strategic cooperation across trade, security, and regional stability.
In a compelling opinion piece published by The National, Fox welcomed the United Kingdom’s recent decision to endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara as the most credible, realistic, and pragmatic solution to the long-standing dispute. The UK’s landmark decision, announced on June 1 during Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Rabat, aligns London with key allies such as the United States, France, Spain, Germany, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
“The UK now stands shoulder to shoulder with allies who view Morocco as a trusted and dependable partner,” Fox wrote, applauding Morocco’s vital role as a regional anchor in the Sahel and North Africa. He emphasized that Morocco’s Autonomy Plan offers the only viable framework for lasting peace and security in the region.
The joint UK-Morocco statement emphasized Britain’s readiness to support the UN-led political process, reaffirming shared urgency for resolving the dispute. Fox underscored this alignment, noting the strategic significance of Morocco in maintaining regional balance amid rising instability and external threats.
Fox also spotlighted major economic opportunities, including UK investment potential in Morocco’s southern provinces and the strategic Dakhla Atlantic Port project. He said, “The UK has an opportunity to capitalize on new trade and investment avenues, underpinned by the stability outlined in Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.”
Addressing regional security threats, Fox warned of the growing influence of Iran and its proxies in West Africa, singling out the Polisario Front as a destabilizing actor with links to Tehran and other terrorist networks. He reiterated his call for the international community to formally designate Polisario as a terrorist group — an initiative already echoed by U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, who introduced a bill to that effect in June.
Fox strongly condemned recent Polisario attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Es-Semara, calling them “part of a broader strategy to sow chaos and undermine Morocco’s sovereignty and security.” He argued that such actions align with the destabilization efforts of Russia, Iran, and China in the Sahel region.
In closing, Fox advocated for an expanded UK-Morocco partnership, grounded in shared values, regional stability, and mutual economic benefit. “Now is the time,” he stated, “to strengthen bonds with one of Britain’s oldest and most reliable allies.
BY: The Times Union
