Assahafa.com
The bipartisan consensus in the United States regarding the exceptional strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco is not a recent phenomenon but dates back to the very birth of the young American Republic, said participants in the first-ever international edition of MAP Town Hall, held Thursday in Washington.
Discussing the origins of this historic relationship, which has evolved into a strategic alliance forged over the years and strengthened under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump, former ambassador and distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Peter Pham, stressed that the 1786 peace and friendship agreement with Morocco was signed by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two Founding Fathers who represented opposing currents within the nascent political arena of the United States.
These two figures, who would later become the second and third presidents of the young American Republic, respectively, set aside their political differences to agree on the necessity of signing a treaty that would lay down the foundation for the longest uninterrupted diplomatic relationship in American history, said Mr. Pham, who was speaking during a high-level panel at MAP Town Hall in Washington.
According to him, this historical truth proves, if proof were needed, that bipartisan consensus in the United States regarding the strategic partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco has existed since the independence of the Unites States.
The former US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes and Sahel Regions of Africa pointed out that the exceptional Moroccan-American relationship has been strengthened far beyond mutual interests to promote peace, security, stability, and co-development, particularly in Africa.
It is this virtuous perspective that has given rise to innovative and forward-thinking initiatives that make the development and prosperity of the continent their primary objectives, such as the Atlantic Initiative for the Sahel States and the Atlantic African States Process, launched under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Pham added during this panel moderated by Alberto Fernandez, Vice President of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
In this regard, the former ambassador highlighted Morocco’s leading role in Africa, particularly within the framework of collective efforts to combat violent extremism and promote economic dynamism on the continent, through active and mutually beneficial cooperation.
This strategic alliance between Rabat and Washington draws its strength from insightful and consistent leadership embodied at the highest levels of both states, he underlined, adding that the objective now is to explore the future of this fruitful cooperation by building on the achievements made so far and seizing the “promising perspectives” of this special relationship between two long-standing friends and allies.
In his turn, Ilan Berman, Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council, highlighted the values and the vast opportunities shared by the United States and Morocco to further reinforce a historic relationship that is now considered a model in the region and beyond.
Moreover, within the framework of tripartite cooperation, the US expert emphasized Morocco’s commitment to its strategic depth and its natural extension, namely Africa.
This commitment to the continent’s development is demonstrated through relevant initiatives and structuring projects in high-value-added sectors, he said, adding that thanks to this unwavering commitment to co-development and regional prosperity, Morocco has established itself as a key partner in efforts to lay down the foundations for an integrated and inclusive partnership involving Africa and the United States.
Held under the theme “Kingdom of Morocco – United States of America: From historic partnership to strategic alliance”, the first international edition of the MAP Town Hall takes place within a context marked by renewed strategic momentum in relations between Rabat and Washington, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump.
The meeting brought together former senior U.S. officials, experts from leading policy institutions, as well as distinguished academic voices to foster a high-level discussion of the trajectory and future of the Moroccan-American alliance.
Source: map
