Policy Brief ORSAM No: 125 / May 2020 EMIRATES OF CRISIS: WHY IS MOROCCO BLACKLISTED? MEHMET RAKİPOĞLU ORSAM Copyright Ankara - TURKEY ORSAM © 2020 Content of this publication is copyrighted to ORSAM. Except reasonable and partial quotation and use under the Act No. 5846, Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, via proper citation, the content may not be used or re-published without prior permission by ORSAM. The views expressed in this publication reflect only the opinions of its authors and do not represent the institutional opinion of ORSAM. Center for Middle Eastern Studies Adress : Mustafa Kemal Mah. 2128 Sk. No: 3 Çankaya, ANKARA Phone : +90 850 888 15 20 Fax: +90 312 430 39 48 Email : [email protected] Photo : Anadolu Ajansı (AA), Shutterstock Policy Brief No:125 ORSAM POLICY BRIEF EMIRATES OF CRISIS: WHY IS MOROCCO BLACKLISTED? About the Author Mehmet Rakipoğlu Mehmet Rakipoğlu graduated from the Department of International Relations of Sakarya University in 2016. During his bachelor, he was educated in Erasmus program in Szczecin city Poland during the 2015- 2016 academic year. Between 2015-2017 he served as students assistant Sakarya University Middle East Institute. He is currently pursuing his doctorate program in the field of Middle Eastern Studies at the same institute. He is also research assistant at Batman University. His research interests include foreign policy of the Gulf countries, Turkey- GCC countries relations, USA’s Middle East policy, non-state actors, political Islam, religion-politic relations. May 2020 orsam.org.tr 2 Emirates of Crisis: Why is Morocco Blacklisted? Table Of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................3 Smear Campaigns ........................................................................................................................3 Growing Enmity ..........................................................................................................................4 Leaving the Emirates Alone..........................................................................................................5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................7 Endnotes........................................................................................................................................9 Policy Brief No:125 3 Emirates of Crisis: Why is Morocco Blacklisted? among Gulf rulers about a crisis in regime security. In this sense, the Gulf countries have With the Arab revolutions that developed a new policy without completely erupted in the late 2010s, the abandoning their close cooperation with the US. Accordingly, Gulf countries, which deepened overthrowing of dictators such as their relations with actors such as England, Mubarak of Egypt and Zeynel France, China and Russia, increased their military Abidin bin Ali of Tunisia had capacities and started to become detached/free shocked the Gulf. In addition, actors. In this sense, while Saudi Arabia intervened Obama’s silent reaction deepened in Yemen in 2015, the UAE started to carry out the concerns among Gulf rulers many unilateral activities in the region. Although about a crisis in regime security. it is claimed that the UAE’s recent activism has been shaped by the US, the fact that Abu Dhabi is getting closer with the Assad regime and Iran from time to time seems to refute this claim. Introduction Therefore, the UAE intends to punish all actors acting against Abu Dhabi’s interests. After Qatar The recent foreign policy assertiveness of and Turkey. Morocco is the latest target of the the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has contributed UAE’s unusual foreign policy tools. to chaos and caused instability not only in the Middle East1 but also in the other regions of the Smear Campaigns world. Over the last years, the UAE have backed Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been trying separatist movements in southern Yemen2, opened to manipulate the course of action in the region.7 a new chapter by establishing a new relationship Both have backed, shaped and consolidated anti- with the brutal Assad regime3, taken responsibility revolutionary movement after the 2010s. More- for the coup in Egypt by financing it4, launched over, they have been targeting pro-democratic a shameless pro-Israeli campaign in the Arab movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood world at the expense of betraying the Palestinian and countries such as Turkey. In addition to this, cause5, and defended Khalifa Haftar, who has recently they have also launched a smear campaign been trying to topple the legitimate government against Qatar. Their social media trolls have in Libya, which was recognized by international claimed that a coup attempt has happened in community6. These are only small portions of Doha, removing Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin the UAE’s aggressiveness in the region. Why Hamad Al Thani from power. As it turned out, has the UAE transformed its foreign policy? this story was fabricated. It is logical to say that Even though it is not a regional power, the UAE these troll armies have been used as a weapon has had to adopt a new foreign policy mentality by Arab authoritarian regimes especially Saudi due to developments that took place after 2010. Arabia and the UAE.8 Just as Saudi Arabia has With the Arab revolutions that erupted in the done, the UAE have instrumentalized social late 2010s, the overthrowing of dictators such media trolls. Abu Dhabi attacked the Moroccan as Mubarak of Egypt and Zeynel Abidin bin Ali administration with its funded social media ac- of Tunisia had shocked the Gulf. In addition, counts. In this sense, a smear campaign was Obama’s silent reaction deepened the concerns launched against the Moroccan government and orsam.org.tr 4 Emirates of Crisis: Why is Morocco Blacklisted? Prime Minister Saadeddine El-Othmani. The crisis? Why did the UAE put Morocco on its content of this smear campaign was the new target board? type of coronavirus (Covid-19).9 Throughout the smear campaign, an attempt was made to Growing Enmity convey the message that Morocco’s struggle There are reasons behind the UAE’s targeting with coronavirus failed. The Othmani government of the Morocco. Firstly, the reaction of King was accused of failing to respond adequately to Mohammed VI to Arab revolutions did not citizens’ needs during the pandemic.10 Moreover, satisfy the Gulf countries but the people of the allegations were made regarding that the country Morocco and the Muslim Brotherhood. Adopting was against the hunger crisis. The purpose of all a new constitution and holding democratic elec- these unfounded claims was to open the gap be- tions11, which paved the way for the Islamist tween the people and the Moroccan government, Justice and Development Party, triggered the re- which was not on the radar of the UAE. Despite sponses from the Gulf. In this sense, $5 billion the baseless propaganda, the Moroccan people in economic aid was offered to Morocco to con- stand by the prime minister and the government strain the influence of Islamist party. Saudi on social media. Many activists also defended Arabia offered the GCC to integrate Morocco the government against this fraudulent campaign and Jordan as the new GCC members in order of the UAE. Where is the real mainstay of the not to shatter the so-called monarchical excep- Policy Brief No:125 5 Emirates of Crisis: Why is Morocco Blacklisted? tionalism during the Arab revolutions. Although On the other hand, the UAE invested more there was a concrete financial support to Morocco in Mauritania’s port and military facilities to from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Rabat ad- shatter the interest of Morocco. This was the ministration has never taken the same train with reason why the foreign minister of Morocco by- the UAE.12 For example, King Mohammed VI passed the UAE during his Gulf tour in 2019.13 was not in favor of Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Rather, he Leaving the Emirates Alone protested the decision and became the opposite It is noteworthy that this crisis has not occurred side of the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and suddenly. The UAE’s victimization of Morocco the UAE, respectively Mohammed bin Selman should be read as a continuation of a process. (MbS) and Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) that The stance of the Rabat administration on at are in favor of this decision. In this sense, being least three regional issues led the UAE to pursue against that decision, the Rabat administration harsh policies against Morocco. All these issues was trying to bypass the MbS and MbZ by are related to the UAE’s war on political Islam. dealing with those, elites who are against Trump’s unlawful decision. This also triggered the hatred The UAE started its war against political of MbS and MbZ toward Morocco. Islam by targeting Qatar and Turkey first. It is suggested that the two actors have somehow In February 2019, the adventurist policymakers supported or demonstrated an affinity to the (MbS and MbZ) instrumentalized al-Arabiyya’s Muslim Brotherhood. While Doha has been wel- documentary to depict Morocco as an illegitimate coming one of the important religious figures of power over the Western Sahara. This was the the Muslim Brotherhood, Yusuf al-Karadawi, latest straw for Rabat. It recalled its ambassador from the UAE on 16 March 2020. To respond to Istanbul hosts many Egyptian politicians and it as