Washington – The United States commended on Sunday His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s role in furthering stability, security, and prosperity in the region.

In a press release issued on the occasion of the Sovereign’s 24th anniversary of ascending to the throne of His glorious ancestors, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed his best wishes and congratulations to His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people on behalf of the US government and citizens.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to His Majesty the King and to the Moroccan people on the Throne Day, and we thank you for being one of our oldest and closest friends”, he added.

Blinken emphasized that the U.S. and Morocco’s “deep and abiding” connection remains “a pillar of peace and stability for our two countries and the region.”

“We commend King Mohammed VI for his role in furthering regional stability, security, and prosperity as well as advancing our shared interests”, he said, stating that Rabat and Washington have a deep and historic relationship that “continues to benefit the people of both our countries”.

Read also: Throne Day: HM the King’s Speech Reaffirms Morocco’s Consistent Stance on Palestinian Issue – Palestinian Academician

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According to two sources briefed on the matter, Secretary of State Tony Blinken apologized to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed last month for the US response to the Houthi strikes against the UAE in January.

What’s at stake: The Emiratis were unhappy by what they viewed as a weak and tardy response from the United States in the aftermath of the assaults, and the Biden administration was similarly disappointed by the Emirati response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Blinken’s apology went a long way toward easing tensions.

• According to the two sources, at his meeting with MBZ in Morocco, Blinken acknowledged that the Biden administration delayed too long to respond to the attacks and apologized.

What they’re saying is as follows: A senior State Department official declined to comment on Blinken’s private talk, but did not rule out the possibility.

• “The Secretary made clear that we deeply value our partnership with the UAE and that we will continue to stand by our partners in the face of common threats,” the senior State Department official said.

• Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE ambassador to Washington, told Axios last month that the Blinken-MBZ meeting helped “move the relationship between the UAE and the U.S. back on the right track.”

In February, when CENTCOM commander Gen. Kenneth McKenzie came to Abu Dhabi, MBZ declined to meet with him because the journey had taken him 22 days.

• The Emiratis were also disappointed that the Biden administration declined their request to re-designate the Houthis as a terror organization.

• The Emirati frustration led the UAE to abstain from a UN Security Council vote on condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s visit to the UAE earlier this month blindsided the White House and further increased tensions with the U.S.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Morocco next week to address regional security and international issues, said Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert on Thursday.

Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria – United States Department of State https://t.co/JgvllGOejJ

— U.S. Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) March 24, 2022

Earlier this month, US media claimed that Saudi and UAE leaders disregarded White House calls to discuss ways to expand oil production in the midst of the West’s efforts to isolate Russia over its special military operation in Ukraine.

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The United States reaffirmed its support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal on Monday, calling it a serious, genuine, and realistic solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara.

“We continue to consider Morocco’s autonomy plan as serious, credible and realistic,” said the spokesperson for the State Department, in a statement released after the meeting held in Washington between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and his American counterpart, Mr. Antony Blinken.

Furthermore, the two parties have voiced their support for the new Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Staffan de Mistura, in the conduct of the Sahara political process, which is being conducted out under the auspices of the United Nations.

During the discussion, the focus was also placed on the “extremely important” tripartite agreement reached by the US, Morocco, and Israel, which confirmed the US recognition of the Kingdom’s full sovereignty over the Sahara.

In this regard, Mr. Bourita and Blinken “welcomed the first anniversary of the Joint Declaration between Morocco, Israel and the United States, which will take place on December 22,” noted the spokesman for American diplomacy, recalling that the bilateral partnership “long-standing is rooted in common interests in regional peace, security and prosperity. “

The two parties also emphasized the necessity of Moroccan-Israeli relations continuing to deepen.

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The partnership between the United States and Morocco is rooted in common interests for regional peace, security and prosperity, said the chief of the American diplomacy, Mr. Antony Blinken

“Secretary Blinken stressed that the long-standing bilateral partnership is rooted in shared interests in regional peace, security and prosperity,” the State Department spokesman noted, in a statement released to the outcome of talks held in Washington between Mr. Blinken and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita.

The meeting was an opportunity for both sides to review a series of regional issues, added the same source

https://www.c-span.org/video/?516255-1/secretary-state-blinken-meets-moroccan-foreign-minister

In a brief speech prior to the beginning of this discussion, the head of American diplomacy praised the United States’ robust and long-standing alliance with Morocco, while reiterating his country’s willingness to strengthen it further.

“We have a long-standing partnership with Morocco, which we want to strengthen and deepen,” he said.

Mr. Bourita emphasized the secular and comprehensive links that unite the two countries, as well as the significance of cementing them further in the face of mutual challenges, in accordance with His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s Vision.

“We have a very long-standing partnership and it is time to enrich it further, to enrich our strategic dialogue, our military cooperation, and defend our interests and our values in the world,” he said. Mr. Bourita cited, on this occasion, a series of common challenges, including climate change, extremism, peace and security, all of which, he said, give more relevance to this relationship.”

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The appointment of Italian diplomat Staffan de Mistura as the UN special envoy for the Sahara file was welcomed by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken today, Thursday.

“I welcome the announcement of the new United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. The United States fully supports the @UN-led political process in Western Sahara to promote a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of the region”. Blinken wrote in a tweet.

I welcome the announcement of the new United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. The United States fully supports the @UN-led political process in Western Sahara to promote a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of the region.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 6, 2021

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, has named Staffan de Mistura as his personal envoy on the Sahara case, succeeding Horst Koehler, who left more than two years ago.

Last December, it was reported that former US President Donald Trump had signed a statement recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

“Today I signed a declaration recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara,” Trump tweeted.

“Morocco’s serious and realistic autonomy proposal is the only basis for a decent and enduring solution to ensure lasting peace and prosperity!” Trump continued.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to speed up the appointment of a UN envoy to the Moroccan Sahara.

This came during a meeting Blinken held with Guterres, on Monday, to discuss US priorities at the United Nations.

A statement issued by the US State Department clarified that Secretary Blinken emphasized the US support for political negotiations.

Weeks ago, Ned Price, Spokesperson for the US State Department announced that his country will continue to support the international process in order to reach a just and lasting solution to the long-running conflict in Morocco.

“There is no update at the moment,” Price said at the time, when asked about the position of Biden’s administration adding, “I think what we have said broadly still applies” on the Sahara issue.

“We will continue to support the UN process to implement a just and lasting solution to this longstanding dispute, the dispute in Morocco”, he stated. “We’ll also support the work of the mission of the United Nations for the referendum in Western Sahara to the – to monitor the ceasefire and to prevent violence in the area.”

It should be recalled that in May 2019, the United Nations announced the resignation of its special envoy to the Sahara, the former German president, Horst Kohler, due to health reasons; the position now remains vacant.

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