The Globalist Morocco celebrates as the world gambles with Western Sahara peace
Nov 6, 2025
Hugh Lovett, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the implications of the UN's backing for Morocco's autonomy plan in Western Sahara and the risks of closing the UN mission. Greg Scruggs analyzes the postponement of the Summit of the Americas, highlighting regional tensions and diplomatic fallout. Iceland's Minister of Industries and Tourism, Hannah Katchen-Fridiksen, shares insights on reshaping tourism strategies and managing visitor seasons, revealing how local cultures can benefit from tourism.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
UN Shift Favors Morocco's Autonomy Plan
- The UN Security Council shifted to endorse Morocco's autonomy plan as the most feasible solution for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty.
- This reframes Sahrawi self-determination into a negotiated autonomy rather than a referendum for independence.
Sahrawi Attachment To Independence Persists
- Sahrawi people broadly remain attached to the idea of an independent state despite diplomatic shifts.
- Polling is difficult because many live under Moroccan control while others are in refugee camps in Algeria.
UN Mission's Removal Raises Violence Risk
- MINUSO acted as both referendum planner and ceasefire buffer since 1991, but prospects for a referendum have vanished and the ceasefire collapsed in 2022.
- Removing MINUSO risks greater violence and regional escalation involving Algeria.