Morocco has officially confirmed that one of its longest and most strategic highways has been renamed in honour of United States President Donald Trump, with King Mohammed VI describing the move as a personal gesture of appreciation for Trump's recognition of Morocco's claim over Western Sahara during his first term in office.
The confirmation came through a letter written by King Mohammed VI to Trump, ending days of speculation after the US president announced the honour on social media without any official statement from Moroccan authorities. Morocco's state press agency has now published the letter, confirming that the former Tiznit-Dakhla highway will bear Trump's name.
In the letter, dated July 2 but released over the weekend, the king said the decision was "a personal expression of my high regard" for the US president.
King Mohammed also praised Trump's role in recognising Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, describing the move as one that changed the relationship between the two countries.
He wrote that Trump's "historic recognition... of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara" would "forever be etched in the memory of Moroccans, from generation to generation".
The recognition came during Trump's first administration as part of an agreement in which Morocco normalised diplomatic relations with Israel.
The renamed highway stretches about 1,055 kilometres and links northern and southern Morocco. The king described it as a "strategic axis" connecting "north and south of Morocco". Morocco refers to Western Sahara as its "southern provinces".
The road also passes into Western Sahara, a territory whose status remains disputed. Morocco controls and claims most of the territory, while the Polisario Front controls part of it and continues to seek independence for the Sahrawi people.
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has remained at the centre of one of Africa's longest-running territorial disputes for nearly five decades. The United Nations considers it a non-self-governing territory and has long supported efforts to find a lasting solution, including a referendum that would allow the indigenous Sahrawi people to decide their future. However, such a vote has never taken place.
The African Union recognises Western Sahara as an independent state, while many European governments have traditionally avoided taking sides in the dispute. More recently, countries including the United Kingdom and Spain have backed Morocco's proposal to grant the territory autonomy under Moroccan rule, while stopping short of supporting full independence.
In his letter, King Mohammed also highlighted the strength of relations between Rabat and Washington under Trump's leadership.
"Although our relations have always been rooted in close friendship and constant loyalty, they have never been as vigorous and fruitful as during your two presidential terms," the king wrote.
Last week, Trump publicly thanked the Moroccan monarch in a post on Truth Social after learning of the honour. His post included a video of the highway, which said the project cost nearly $1 billion to build.
"I look forward to traveling the entire length of this great highway someday, hopefully soon!" the president wrote.
The official confirmation now leaves no doubt that Morocco has chosen to honour Trump with one of the country's most important transport corridors, linking the decision directly to his administration's recognition of Morocco's claim over Western Sahara.