The Western Sahara conflict has reached a critical stage following three rounds of talks prompted by UN Security Council resolution 2797 (2025). Washington's push for a swift political resolution faces significant obstacles due to irreconcilable differences between Morocco and the Polisario Front, compounded by ongoing tensions on the ground. Experts warn that the U.S. strategy, which prioritizes the Moroccan autonomy plan, lacks the necessary consensus and risks being rejected by the Sahrawi people. Furthermore, the push to sideline the Polisario Front—the UN-recognized representative of the Sahrawi people—threatens the foundation of a lasting peace. As the Security Council prepares for the October 31, 2026 resolution, there is growing concern that limiting the political process to a pre-determined outcome will render negotiations meaningless. Meanwhile, the MINURSO mission remains essential to monitoring the situation, and any reduction in its mandate could lead to a security vacuum and heightened regional instability.