Ivanka Trump, the daughter of U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, the architect of the Abraham Accords under which the U.S recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, are holidaying in Dakhla in southern Morocco, a symbolic visit with significant geopolitical implications, online newspaper Atalayar reported.
Even though having stepped away from US politics neither Ivanka nor Jared is expected to have a role in the Trump administration, the Trump family members taking a holiday in the disputed Sahara region is being read to signal ongoing support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
President-Elect Donald Trump made US recognition a cornerstone of his legacy in December 2020 at the tail end of his first term as President, reversing 30 years of US policy. The Biden administration has not rescinded that recognition.
The trip, which will last several days, suggests the continuing influence of the Trump family in shaping US foreign policy, particularly in relation to the Middle East and North Africa. Kushner is still dubbed by Moroccan media as the unofficial “Assistant Secretary of State for the Maghreb and Near East” due to his previous involvement as an advisor and envoy for Trump in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
His controversial position on the Palestinian issue, notably his proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza to populate the Negev, endeared him to Israeli expansionists, which is now fueling speculation about his role in managing US relations with Israel and its Arab allies, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Trump’s incoming administration is With respect to Africa, some Moroccan news outlets have hinted that the next US administration might designate the Polisario Front a “terrorist organization,” though this is considered unlikely, Atalayar reported.
It seems that Dakhla is one of the couple’s favorite destinations. The city was the start of their “romantic getaway” in July 2022.