King Mohammed VI has confirmed that Morocco has renamed its 1,055‑kilometre Tiznit‑Dakhla highway in honour of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Earlier this week Trump tweeted his gratitude for the tribute, but a formal Moroccan statement had not appeared.
The state press agency published the monarch’s letter dated 2 July, in which he explained that the road was renamed as a personal expression of his high regard for the U.S. president. He referred to Trump’s 2020 recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara as a "historic recognition" and said it would be "forever etched in the memory of Moroccans".
The highway, stretching from Tiznit in the south‑east to Dakhla near the disputed Western Sahara, is described by the king as a "strategic axis" linking north and south. Morocco treats the territory as part of its southern provinces, although a section remains under the control of the Polisario Front, who fight for Sahrawi independence.
In the same letter the monarch noted that the road had cost almost $1 billion to build, and that Trump look forward to traveling its length someday.
The move follows the 2020 U.S. policy that acknowledged Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara as part of a broader deal to normalise U.S. relations with Israel.
While European governments have largely avoided taking sides, the African Union recognises Western Sahara’s independence and the United Nations keeps pressing for a referendum that has yet to materialise.
This renaming is a symbolic gesture that blends diplomatic appreciation with territorial ambition, and it may prompt responses in neighbouring countries and from separatist groups.
