Hundreds of guests gathered at the historic Chellah site in Rabat as the US Embassy celebrated the 250th anniversary of American independence and the long friendship between Morocco and the United States. The annual Independence Day reception brought together Moroccan ministers, diplomats, business leaders and other public figures. It was the first time the event had been held at Chellah.
In 1777, Morocco became the first country to publicly recognise US independence when Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah opened Moroccan ports to American ships.
The two countries strengthened their ties in 1786 when they signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Ratified by the US Congress a year later, it remains the longest-standing treaty in American history that has never been broken.
Today, the partnership covers trade, security, education and investment.
Trade between the two countries has grown sharply since the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2006. Annual trade now exceeds $5bn, with the United States remaining one of Morocco’s leading foreign investors.
Military cooperation is also a major part of the relationship. Morocco co-hosts African Lion, the largest military exercise organised by the US Africa Command. More than 8,000 troops from over 20 countries take part in the drills each year.
Education links have also expanded. More than 10,000 Moroccans have taken part in US-backed exchange programmes, including the Fulbright Programme and the International Visitor Leadership Program.
The US diplomatic presence in Morocco has grown alongside these ties.
A new US Consulate General in Casablanca, built at a cost of more than $312m, now serves as a centre for visa services, trade support and cultural programmes.
At the same time, the American Legation in Tangier remains an important symbol of the relationship. Given to the United States by Sultan Moulay Slimane in 1821, it was the first American diplomatic property overseas and is still standing today.
Speaking at the reception, US Ambassador Richard Duke Buchan III said the partnership was looking ahead and pointed to growing cooperation around economic development in Morocco’s southern provinces.
He pledged his support for projects aimed at turning the Moroccan Sahara into a major Atlantic trade gateway linking Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The evening ended with a fireworks and drone show above Chellah. The display marked 250 years of relations between Morocco and the United States and celebrated the continuing partnership between the two countries.
