Backing Morocco's Sahara plan, the UK embraces its «progressive realism» foreign strategy
The UK's recent recognition of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara marks a significant moment in British diplomacy. In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Lt Gen Sir Simon Mayall, a retired British Army officer and former Middle East adviser at the Ministry of Defence, called the move «particularly significant in the context of the new Strategic Defence Review». He highlighted it as an example of the UK «seizing the initiative on a diplomatic issue that has been neglected by the international community for nearly half a century».
According to Mayall, the recognition is part of what Foreign Secretary David Lammy has described as a strategy of «progressive realism» — a foreign policy approach that seeks to combine pragmatic interests with progressive goals by strengthening ties with «trusted and reliable» partners. «The political tides in Africa are shifting once again», Mayall noted, «and the UK needs to be clear-sighted about who its friends are».
Lammy introduced the concept of «progressive realism» in April 2024 as a guiding principle for UK foreign policy under the Labour government. It blends national interest with support for international institutions and free trade.
Mayall also emphasized the economic dimension of the UK's support for Morocco, pointing to a £5 billion facility from UK Export Finance to back projects in the country. «Our support for Morocco and its ambitions in the region will unlock huge economic opportunities for British companies», he said.
The UK's shift from a neutral stance to formally backing Morocco's autonomy plan was announced on Sunday. It was accompanied by a series of cooperation agreements across various sectors, including trade, health, education — and soon, defense.
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