Assahafa.com
The American think tank Stimson Center has just published a report dedicated to Morocco entitled “Morocco Country Policy Report” (May 2026).
The report draws a highly ambitious assessment of Morocco’s status as an emerging power on both regional and international levels. Along the way, it analyzes the political, diplomatic, economic, industrial, and security drivers that have enabled the Kingdom to position itself as an essential player and reliable partner for major world powers, as well as to stand out for its stability and prosperity within a region of the globe that is nevertheless subject to shifting political tensions and plagued by striking insecurity.
”Assahafa” proposes to list the various key points of the report:
1. Major Industrial and Energy Transformation
Morocco has made a spectacular shift toward high-value-added industrial production. Today, it is Africa’s leading automotive producer, attracting massive international investment through the creation of free zones and integrated ecosystems (automotive, aerospace, electronics).
On the energy front, the country is asserting itself as a leader in the green transition, thanks to the acceleration of its decarbonization and green hydrogen projects. Furthermore, its recent signing of the Paris Declaration on Nuclear Financing marks its willingness to explore civil nuclear energy to sustainably diversify its energy mix over the long term.
2. World-Class Macroeconomic Performance and Infrastructure
Supported by large-scale infrastructure projects (such as the Tanger Med port complex) and an agricultural recovery, Morocco’s real GDP jumped to 4.9% in 2025 (up from 3.2% in 2024), with solid forecasts of 4.4% for 2026.
Inflation has been brilliantly controlled, dropping from 6.1% in 2023 to 0.8% in 2025, allowing the central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) to maintain a stable monetary policy. The efficiency of its logistical investments has significantly strengthened its connectivity to global value chains.
Here are the key points highlighted by the report on this subject:
3. Major Diplomatic and Multilateral Victory in the Moroccan Sahara Issue
The report describes recent developments regarding the Sahara issue as “significant multilateral victories” for Rabat. It notably highlights:
A. Territorial and Geographical Integration Against a Backdrop of Accelerated Socio-Economic Development in the Southern Provinces
In terms of geographical description and the country’s structure, the report fully integrates the region into the overall territorial configuration of the Kingdom.
It notes that Morocco’s total territorial area spans 710,850 km², explicitly specifying that this encompasses both the northern territory and the Southern Provinces (the Sahara).
The geographical characteristics of this area (desert climate, water stress, and extreme temperatures) are analyzed on an equal footing with other regions in evaluating the country’s global climate challenges.
On the domestic front, the report approaches the Sahara from the angle of territorial integration. The think tank describes the Southern Provinces not as a periphery, but as a major extension of the state’s large-scale public works policy:
First-Rate Logistical Infrastructure: Mirroring the success model of Tanger Med in the North, the State is deploying massive public investments to equip the South with logistical hubs (notably the Dakhla Atlantic mega-port project). The goal is to directly connect these provinces to Sub-Saharan African and Latin American markets, transforming the region into a true commercial bridge.
The Shift Toward Renewable Energies: The report notes that the Southern Provinces are at the heart of Morocco’s strategy to become a world leader in green hydrogen and clean energy. Thanks to their exceptional exposure (solar and wind), these regions host major industrial decarbonization projects that attract foreign capital.
Integration and Public Services: The development of road infrastructure (such as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway) and the expansion of social safety nets (universal medical coverage, projects aimed at reducing regional disparities) are analyzed as engines of socio-economic integration, helping to improve local human development indicators.
B. A Successful “Strategic Transactionalism” / Proliferation of International Recognitions and Strong Momentum for the Autonomy Plan
The report analyzes Morocco’s international strategy under the concept of “strategic transactionalism.” Support for its sovereignty over the Sahara has become the cornerstone and the prism through which the Kingdom establishes, conditions, or redefines its economic and security partnerships with major global and European powers.
Thus, the think tank emphasizes that Morocco’s foreign policy, conducted in a disciplined and rigorous manner under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, has profoundly reshaped the strategic architecture of the Maghreb. The report highlights the following points:
The Spillover Effect of the Abraham Accords: The report recalls that recognition by the United States in 2020 marked a historic turning point. Far from losing steam, this momentum has consolidated over the years, prompting many other powers to clarify or align their positions with Rabat’s.
The Pivot of European Powers: The institute’s report incorporates the fact that support for the Moroccan autonomy plan (proposed in 2007) is now considered by a growing portion of the international community as the only realistic, serious, and credible basis to definitively close this dispute. Major European countries (such as Spain, Germany, and more recently France) have officially endorsed this roadmap, which has isolated the position of the Polisario Front and its supporters on the international stage.
Strengthened UN Legitimacy: The report mentions the evolution of UN Security Council texts, which increasingly and explicitly integrate the preeminence of Moroccan initiatives in the political process.
4. The Contrast of “Strategic Transactionalism” / Comparative Analysis of Moroccan and Algerian Postures
The report directly opposes the diplomatic doctrines of the two countries:
On one hand, Morocco successfully applies a doctrine of “strategic transactionalism.” Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Rabat has managed to link its security and territorial interests (particularly on the Sahara issue) to concrete and mutually beneficial economic partnerships with major powers (United States, European Union countries, Gulf countries).
On the other hand, Algeria is perceived as remaining frozen in a more traditional diplomatic approach inherited from the Cold War, which struggles to adapt to the new realities of international relations. This ideological rigidity contributes to gradually detaching Algiers from the major global decision-making hubs.
A. The Cascade Effect of Support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan
Algeria’s isolation is particularly visible through the evolution of European and African positions on the Sahara question. The report underscores that Algerian diplomacy has suffered serious setbacks as key pivot actors have shifted in favor of Morocco:
The European Pivot: Historical economic and energy partners of Algeria, such as Spain, Germany, and France, have officially recognized the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only realistic basis for a settlement. The report notes that Algiers’ attempts to use energy leverage (gas) to pressure or punish these countries (as was attempted with Madrid) largely failed, damaging its reputation as a stable partner without reversing the diplomatic trend.
The African Momentum: The successive opening of dozens of consulates general of African and Arab countries in Laâyoune and Dakhla demonstrates, according to the report, a blatant loss of influence for the Algiers-Polisario axis within the African Union and across the continent.
B. A Defensive Posture in the Face of Morocco’s Security Alliances
The Stimson Center report highlights Algeria’s geopolitical anxiety regarding Morocco’s integration into new global security networks.
The consolidation of the Abraham Accords and the strengthening of security and military cooperation between Morocco and Israel are perceived by Algiers as a strategic encirclement.
Rather than responding with openness or a diversification of its own alliances, Algeria has retreated into a defensive posture, massively increasing its military budget and focusing on its close relationship with Russia—an alignment that is proving increasingly difficult to capitalize on diplomatically on the current international stage.
C. The Blockade of Maghreb Integration
Finally, the report emphasizes that this rupture in diplomatic relations (initiated by Algiers in 2021) and the closure of borders and airspace keep the Maghreb in a state of total fragmentation. In this context of non-cooperation, it is Algeria that appears most disconnected from major regional economic flows, while Morocco successfully bypasses this gridlock by projecting itself as the essential logistical and maritime hub linking Europe to Sub-Saharan Africa (notably via the Tanger Med port and the future Dakhla Atlantic port).
