Morocco's King Mohammed VI has called on his country's partners to "clarify" their position over the disputed Western Sahara territory and offer "unequivocal" support.
"I would like to send a clear message to the world: the Sahara issue is the prism through which Morocco views its international environment," he said in a televised speech Saturday evening.
He also described the issue as the "clear and simple measure for the sincerity of friendships" between Morocco and its partners, in remarks marking the Revolution of the King and the People, a national holiday that celebrates the kingdom's anti-colonial struggle.
King Mohammed VI called on allies to "clarify their stance... in an unequivocal manner" on the matter of Western Sahara. He did not specify which countries he was addressing.
But observers saw it as a message to France, whose president is set to visit Algeria on August 25-27.
The king also saluted the United States' "incontrovertible" position.
The US under former president Donald Trump recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed former Spanish colony, a policy that has continued under his successor Joe Biden.
The king also lauded recent moves by Spain and Germany to reverse previous policies and recognize Rabat's autonomy initiative for the territory.
Spain in March publicly backed Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed region after a months-long diplomatic spat.
Rabat and Berlin had in February agreed to renew ties after a year-long diplomatic freeze over disagreements including on Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
