Rabat, 02/06/2025

Templar Executives and its joint venture in Morocco, Maritemex, welcomes this latest exciting announcement: In a significant affirmation of bilateral ties and international diplomacy, the United Kingdom has reiterated its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most credible and pragmatic framework for resolving the longstanding dispute over the Western Sahara.

This position was formalised in a Joint Communiqué signed on Sunday in Rabat by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

In the statement, the UK affirmed that it “considers Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, presented in 2007, as the most credible, serious and realistic basis for achieving a lasting and mutually acceptable solution” to the regional dispute. The communiqué also emphasised that the UK will continue to engage “bilaterally, regionally and internationally, in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict”.

The UK further “recognises the importance of the Western Sahara issue for the Kingdom of Morocco,” and expressed support for the ongoing diplomatic momentum led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. It noted that resolving the conflict would contribute to “the stability of North Africa and support the renewal of regional integration and bilateral cooperation”.

The communiqué also reaffirmed the UK’s recognition of Morocco as a “key gateway to Africa’s socio-economic development”, and reiterated the UK’s intention to expand its strategic partnership with Morocco across trade, investment, security, education and regional development.

An example of this strategic partnership in action is Maritemex established in 2021 as a joint venture between UK based Templar Executives and its partner in Morocco to support local capacity building. The UK government’s indication that it will support regional development initiatives through the UK Export Finance (UKEF) programme, which has allocated up to £5 billion to advance UK-Morocco business ventures is a timely boost to these kind of investment initiatives.

Maritemex is poised to play a key role in supporting Morocco’s and the region’s economic development priorities while exemplifying the impact of UK-Moroccan cooperation in driving innovation, resilience and regional integration.

This reaffirmation of UK support aligns with the positions taken by several international actors, including the United States, France, Spain and others, reflecting a growing international consensus in favour of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a constructive path forward.

For more information, please contact Templar Executives on enquiries@templarexecs.com or Maritemex on contact@maritemex.com.