The decision by President Trump shows disregard to international law and to the UN and its resolutions. It affects the credibility of the US as a member of the UN Security Council that is entrusted with the questions of Western Sahara. However this is not going to change the nature of the issue as a decolonisation matter on the UN list.

There have been strong reactions challenging Trump’s decision from US Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Statement from Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Statement by Oklahoma Republican James M. Inhofe, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee

Betty McCollum, representing Minnesota’s Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives states:
“I condemn Trump’s unilateral recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco’s diplomatic recognition of Israel. The Sahrawi people have an internationally recognized right to self-determination that must be respected. Trump’s actions dangerously extend legitimacy to the illegal annexation of Sahrawi territory, which could foreshadow his administration’s intent to recognize Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land. This is why I introduced H.R. 8050”