Recognition of the Moroccan Sahara: what does France gain?

French recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is not without interest. What would France gain?

At the end of July, France officially recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara. In a message addressed to King Mohammed VI commemorating the 25th anniversary of his enthronement, French President Emmanuel Macron said he considered “that the present and future of Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty.” He assured the Moroccan sovereign of “the inviolability of the French position on this national security issue for the kingdom.” France “intends to act in accordance with this position at the national and international levels,” he added. For Bloomberg, Paris’ change of position on the Sahara issue has aims.