As a major non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally, Morocco enjoys a close relationship with the United States that has only strengthened in recent years. Not only is Morocco considered a stable, liberalizing, and democratizing Arab Muslim country, but it has also been an important partner in combating terrorism and pursuing peace in the Middle East. It receives more U.S. foreign assistance than any other country in the Maghreb, and the U.S. Army will continue to participate in many activities, including major exercises and smaller security-oriented activities, meant to build partner capacity and maintain
good relations.
Yet, even after decades marked by war, significant military and diplomatic involvement by the United States, and long-term intervention by the United Nations, no resolution is in sight to Morocco’s conflict with Western Saharan nationalists. This monograph, completed in September 2012, demonstrates the history of the dispute—characterized by insurgency, regular warfare, intifadas, and the longest functional military barrier in the world— and offers lessons of relevance to military planners and policymakers alike.