The UK recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara as early as 1721

Britain recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces as early as 1721 through a peace treaty that acknowledged Sultan Moulay Ismail’s rule over the Sahara. This recognition was reaffirmed in a later agreement, the 1895 Anglo-Moroccan treaty, which explicitly stated that the lands between Wad Draa and Cape Bojador belong to Morocco.