Assahafa.com
The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution to celebrate Morocco as “the first country to officially recognize the United States on December 1, 1777,” marking 250 years of diplomatic relationships in 2027.
Resolution 251, titled “Recognizing the longstanding friendship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America,” pointed to historical landmarks such as the establishment of relationships upon Sultan’s Muhammed Ben Abdullah’s decision to open Moroccan ports to American merchants and the Continental Congress sending of the first democratic correspondence to Morocco in 1780.
The resolution also acknowledges the “Treaty of Peace and Friendship.” Signed in 1787, the treaty established formal diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Jouse’s resolution lauded this bilateral partnership as “the longest unbroken diplomatic relationship in United States history.”
The document goes on to mention Morocco’s gifting the United States the Tangier American Legation In 1821, making it the first American diplomatic property abroad. The House hailed this as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The resolution also highlights Morocco’s commitment to religious coexistence, its protection of Jewish communities, and its ongoing efforts in “interfaith dialogue and Holocaust education.”
In addition, the resolution welcomes Morocco’s signing of the “Abraham Accords”- a series of highly controversial, US-brokered agreements on the normalization of ties between Arab states and Israel.
The decision also states that Morocco and the US have established “a multifaceted partnership” built on strategic, economic, and cultural interests, emphasizing that Morocco is the only African country with a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.
Notably, the trade agreement, which has been in place since 2006, made Morocco the 46th largest export marker in 2024, according to the Office of US States Representatives.
The resolution also cites Morocco’s engagement in global initiatives such as nuclear nonproliferation efforts and the countering of illicit arms trafficking. It further pointed to the countries’ cooperation in areas of regional security, counterterrorism efforts and military coordination, such as the “African Lion,” a series of joint military exercises between the US and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces since 2007.
The US House of Representatives ultimately called for continued cooperation in areas such as trade, security, digital transformation, and humanitarian efforts, supporting efforts to celebrate the long standing partnership in the lead-up to 2027.
Morocco recognized the United States in 1777 for strategic and diplomatic reasons during the “American Revolutionary War” against Britain. In addition to establishing strong trade relations, Morocco sought to counterbalance European powers and to position itself as an independent force in the Mediterranean and Atlantic region.
The US, however, has been subject to sharp criticism in Morocco in recent years. Many analysts are increasingly taking issue with America’s perceived history as a settler colony and its role in starting and fueling wars and conflicts in the Middle East and beyond.
Source: Morocco word news
