Russia vetoes US resolution on Western Sahara autonomy plan
Morocco's plan for Western Sahara autonomy faced international setback after Russia's veto of a US resolution.
Russia vetoed a United States resolution aimed at imposing Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara on October 30. This action represents a significant disappointment for Morocco, which had previously normalized relations with Israel in September. Algerian diplomacy has consistently stated that sovereignty over a territory cannot be granted by a third party, regardless of global power.
Morocco had gambled on this plan in 2020, accepting a deal proposed by Donald Trump as part of the Abraham Accords. King Mohammed VI took a considerable risk, given domestic public support for Palestinians, especially after the Gaza war began. Morocco also invested heavily in arms deals and other agreements with Israel, even reportedly expelling Moroccans from their land for Israeli returnees.
The Moroccan government had interpreted Russia's abstention on resolution 2797 in October 2025 as a definitive closure of the Western Sahara issue in its favor. However, the text of the resolution did not eliminate the possibility of self-determination through a referendum, which is why Russia, China, and Algeria, then a non-permanent Security Council member, did not oppose it.
Why it mattersAlgeria, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, was involved in the vote that did not oppose the resolution on Western Sahara.