Trump says Morocco named Tiznit-Dakhla highway after him: Why it matters
US President Donald Trump announced that Morocco named the Tiznit-Dakhla highway after him, thanking King Mohammed VI. The 1,055km highway, completed in January after a decade of construction, connects southern Morocco through Western Sahara to Mauritania and cost approximately $1 billion. Experts suggest the gesture reflects Morocco's close ties with Trump's administrations and broader infrastructure ambitions in the disputed territory.
Donald Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that Morocco had named a major highway in his honour, expressing gratitude to King Mohammed VI and indicating interest in travelling the route. The Moroccan government has not publicly confirmed the claim. The highway in question, stretching 1,055 kilometres, became fully operational in January following a decade-long construction period with an estimated cost of around $1 billion. The route runs from Tiznit through Guelmim and Tan-Tan to Laayoune, the primary urban centre in Morocco-controlled Western Sahara, and extends further south to the Dakhla Peninsula, where Morocco is developing the Dakhla Atlantic Port.
Analysts note that the tribute aligns with Morocco's historical relationship with Trump's administrations. Morocco was among the signatories to the Abraham Accords brokered by Trump in 2020, which normalised relations between Morocco and Israel. In exchange, the Trump administration provided significant diplomatic backing at the United Nations and through bilateral channels, advancing Morocco's position regarding Western Sahara. According to Middle East Institute analyst Intissar Fakir, Trump's administrations have been uniquely supportive of Morocco's territorial ambitions in the region.
The timing of the recognition raises questions about Morocco's strategic objectives. The Trump administration sponsored a UN Security Council resolution supporting Morocco's Western Sahara position in October 2025. Fakir suggested the highway naming may be connected to Morocco's bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final, a tournament being cohosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Alternatively, the recognition may simply reflect the recent completion of the highway section attributed to Trump.
The Tiznit-Dakhla highway represents part of Morocco's broader infrastructure strategy to consolidate control over Western Sahara, a territory subject to a decades-long independence dispute. The highway network supports Morocco's regional trade ambitions, positioning the country as a gateway connecting Europe with Africa and the Sahel region. Since 2023, Morocco has promoted its Atlantic Initiative, offering port access to landlocked Sahel nations including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, leveraging its geographic position between the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
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