The US Congress has introduced a resolution celebrating the 250ᵉ anniversary of Morocco’s recognition of the United States as the first sovereign state to establish diplomatic relations with the young nation in 1777.
Proposed by Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Joe Wilson, the Representative from South Carolina and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the bill highlights the long-standing and solid partnership between Washington and Rabat, emphasizing that December 1ᵉʳ 2027 will mark two and a half centuries of uninterrupted diplomatic relations.
The text recalls that, as early as December 1ᵉʳ 1777, at the height of the American Revolutionary War, Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah took the initiative of opening Moroccan ports to American merchant ships, marking the official start of bilateral relations. Three years later, in December 1780, the Continental Congress addressed its first diplomatic correspondence to the Kingdom of Morocco, expressing a desire for peace and friendship.
This exchange was followed in July 1787 by the ratification of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States and Morocco, also known as the Treaty of Marrakech. This document remains, to this day, the oldest diplomatic agreement still in force in the history of the United States.
In 1821, Morocco set a new milestone by offering the United States the American Legation in Tangiers, the first American diplomatic property abroad, which has become a lasting symbol of the friendship between the two nations.
The resolution highlights the diversity of bilateral cooperation, covering areas as varied as regional security, the fight against terrorism, trade and cultural cooperation.
In particular, it points out that Morocco remains the only African country to have concluded a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, in force since 2006, which has led to a significant expansion in agricultural trade between the two nations.
The text also underlines Morocco’s commitment to promoting religious coexistence, notably through the protection of its Jewish communities and its participation in international efforts to raise awareness of the history of the Holocaust and inter-religious dialogue.
The resolution highlights the close military cooperation between Rabat and Washington, reflected in joint exercises such as Operation African Lion, and concerted efforts to combat nuclear proliferation and illicit arms trafficking.
The document also praises Morocco’s commitment to the Abraham Accords, in which Rabat plays an active role in promoting regional stability.
This resolution reinforces Morocco’s position as a key U.S. ally in Africa and the Arab world, testifying to the deep-rootedness of a diplomatic relationship that spans the centuries.
