Morocco-Israel : The US is considering investments worth up to $3 billion in Morocco

A senior Trump administration official confirmed on Thursday that the United States is considering investments worth up to $3 billion in Morocco over three years.

According to the New York Times, talks between Rabat and Washington began in 2017 and addressed the promise of recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange of establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

Quoting two Moroccan officials informed of these talks, the newspaper wrote that the Moroccan government has been informed, «that the Trump administration was willing to help facilitate as much as $3 billion in investments».

The same source explained that «much of that earmarked for Moroccan banks, hotels and a renewable energy company owned by the king». «The effort was to be coordinated by the United States International Development Finance Corporation», the officials told the newspaper.

However, the senior Trump administration official clarified that this aid is «not linked to the reconciliation with Israel».

The New York Times also claims that the agreement between Morocco and the United States was reached with the help of the Moroccan Jewish investor Yariv Elbaz. The businessman «acted as a go-between for Washington and Rabat».