Jim Inhofe Western Sahara

Inhofe Condemns Trump's Recognition of Morocco's Western Sahara Claim

Inhofe & Leahy Lead Senate Call for Biden to Reverse Decision

"Misguided and Damaging to US Interests", Inhofe Says

Washington, D.C. - Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) on Thursday denounced the Trump administration's recognition of Morocco's claim over the disputed Western Sahara region, calling it "a misguided and damaging decision that will harm US interests in the region."

Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined 24 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging him to reverse the decision. "This decision is a betrayal of the Sahrawi people and will only serve to further destabilize the region," Inhofe said in a statement.

The Trump administration's recognition of Morocco's claim over Western Sahara was widely condemned by members of both parties, who argued that it violated international law and undermined US efforts to promote peace in the region. The decision also drew sharp criticism from the Biden administration, which has since pledged to review the issue.

In their letter to Biden, Inhofe and Leahy urged the president to "use all available diplomatic tools to support a just and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara based on the principles of self-determination and international law." They also called on Biden to "suspend the sale of US arms to Morocco until Morocco withdraws its claim over Western Sahara."

The conflict over Western Sahara has been ongoing since 1975, when Morocco annexed the territory after Spain withdrew. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which declared independence in 1976, controls a portion of Western Sahara but is not recognized by most countries.