Between Morocco and the United States: A Story of the First Recognition and a Centuries-Old Friendship
By ALDAR / Iman Alaoui
As the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1776, attention turns to one of the oldest and most enduring diplomatic relationships that continues to flourish today: the historic friendship between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States.
Morocco was the first country in the world to officially recognize the independence of the United States, doing so in 1777 in a bold and unprecedented diplomatic move at the time. This recognition came at a moment when the great powers of the world — particularly the European empires — were hesitant or outright dismissive of the newly born American entity. But Sultan Mohammed III, with foresight and wisdom, decided to include American ships in his maritime decree, granting them protection and free trade access to Moroccan ports. This laid the first foundation of what would become a strategic relationship lasting nearly two and a half centuries.
This historic recognition was crowned in 1786 with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations — the oldest treaty still in force in U.S. history. It continues to be studied in American universities as a unique example of a relationship founded on mutual respect and shared interests.
Over the decades that followed, this relationship was never merely a formal document or diplomatic courtesy, but rather a true partnership rooted in military, economic, cultural, and security cooperation. Morocco hosted one of the first American diplomatic missions in the world, and the relationship has since expanded to cover key areas such as counterterrorism, renewable energy, education, technology, and even space cooperation.
Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues to play a pivotal role in promoting regional stability and fostering dialogue between cultures and religions. The Kingdom is regarded as a trusted strategic ally of Washington in Africa and the Arab world.
For its part, the United States consistently praises Morocco’s efforts on various international fronts, including its contributions to peace in the Middle East, its fight against extremism, and its support for sustainable development across Africa. The bilateral relationship is further reinforced by joint initiatives such as the U.S.–Morocco Strategic Dialogue, cultural and academic exchange programs, and advanced defense cooperation agreements.
Against this rich historical backdrop, and as America marks two and a half centuries of independence, the story of Morocco and the United States resurfaces — not merely as a page from the past, but as a cornerstone of the future.
This partnership, born from the far-sighted vision of a wise Sultan and a nascent republic, stands today as a model for modern international relations. It remains a living testament to the idea that respect, trust, and shared interests can form alliances that endure the test of time.
