Janice R. Andrews
A new report from the Atlantic Council suggests that Morocco may reconsider its neutral position between the United States and China as tensions between the two superpowers escalate, especially with the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House.
The report indicates that Trump’s possible efforts to repeal or limit the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), from which Morocco has benefited, could make the country less attractive to Chinese investors. The IRA has been crucial in facilitating Chinese investments in Morocco, granting access to U.S. markets, driving job creation, fostering technology transfers, and boosting Morocco’s role in Africa’s green energy sector.
As China becomes Africa’s leading trading partner, the report emphasizes how Trump’s stance on Morocco could reshape its relationship with both the U.S. and China. Morocco’s strategic position and growing influence, particularly in the Sahel region, are seen as key assets in global geopolitics.
The report also notes that Morocco’s ambitious projects, like those launched by King Mohammed VI in 2023 to connect Sahel nations to the Atlantic Ocean, may become a focus for U.S. policy if Trump is re-elected. These development initiatives could offer opportunities for U.S.-Morocco collaboration, especially in countering the drug trade and terrorism in the region.
Ultimately, the report suggests that how the Trump administration approaches Morocco will have significant implications for U.S. relations with the kingdom, given its central role in shaping Africa’s future and its increasing influence on global security and economic issues.
