Morocco–United States relations
bilateral relations between United States and Morocco
Relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America date back to the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and specifically since 1777 when Morocco under Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah became the first country in the world to recognize the independence of the United States. Morocco remains one of America's oldest and closest allies in North Africa and in the Arab world, a status affirmed by Morocco's zero-tolerance policy towards Al-Qaeda and their affiliated groups. Morocco also assisted the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency with questioning Al-Qaeda members captured in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere during the administration of President George W. Bush, who designated the country as a major non-NATO ally.
Formal U.S. diplomatic relations with Morocco began in 1787 when the Confederation Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations, which had been signed earlier in 1786. Although the Sultan of Morocco declared war on the United States in 1802, the treaty was renegotiated in 1836 and is still in force, making it the longest unbroken treaty relationship in the history of the United States. Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world. Now a museum, the Tangier American Legation Museum is also the only building outside of the U.S. that is designated as a National Historic Landmark and the only foreign building to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The U.S. maintains an embassy in Rabat, Morocco. Morocco maintains an embassy in the United States at 1601 21st Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 2009.
History
1777–1787
On 20 December 1777, Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah commissioned the Dutch consul in Salé to write letters to European merchants and consuls in Tangier, Salé, Larache and Mogador stating that vessels sailing under the American flag could enter Morocco's ports, alongside those of European countries with which Morocco had no diplomatic ties, such as Russia and Prussia, under the same conditions as those enjoyed by the nations that had treaty relations.
The public source identifies “Morocco–United States relations” as bilateral relations between United States and Morocco. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Morocco, United and States.
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