Assahafa.com
Under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has emerged as a proven and “indispensable” model for reform, development, and coexistence in the region and beyond, U.S. Representative Joe Wilson said Thursday in Washington.
“The dedication of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to constitutional reforms, modernization, the advancement of the rights of women, and the promotion of religious tolerance among Christians, Jews, and Muslims has guided the progress of Morocco and strengthened its role as a model for the region,” the Republican lawmaker said in a pre-recorded video message delivered during the first international edition of the MAP Town Hall, held under the theme “Kingdom of Morocco – United States of America: From Historic Partnership to Strategic Alliance.”
The member of the U.S. House of Representatives added that HM the King’s steadfast and enduring commitment to sustainable development and economic opportunity has further advanced the well-being of the Moroccan people and positioned the Kingdom as a leader across North Africa and the broader Mediterranean region.
The U.S. lawmaker likewise highlighted the centuries-old, strategic relations between Morocco and the United States, recalling that the Kingdom was the very first nation to recognize the independence of the young American Republic.
In 1777, Morocco opened its ports to American ships and recognized the United States as an independent nation, granting U.S. vessels the same privileges enjoyed by those of other treaty partners, he noted.
The U.S. representative further recalled that formal diplomatic ties were later reinforced through the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, describing it as the foundation of the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in U.S. history.
“Morocco remains an oasis of stability in North Africa, as well as a friend and trusted partner of America,” he said.
Congressman Wilson also noted that since the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement entered into force more than two decades ago, economic ties have continued to flourish, with bilateral trade in goods and services approaching $10 billion annually while supporting jobs in both countries.
Holding the very first international edition of MAP Town Hall in Washington comes at a time when the historic relations between Morocco and the United States continue to gain renewed strategic momentum, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Featuring a diverse array of political, diplomatic, academic, cultural, and media figures in Washington, as well as several representatives from influential American think tanks, this inaugural event aimed to explore—through panel discussions and fruitful exchanges—the past, present, and future of the strategic alliance between Rabat and Washington.
Source: map
