How Morocco became America’s oldest friend

The United States and Morocco’s strong friendship dates back to America’s earliest years.

It’s “a unique friendship that has spanned centuries, defying geography and boundaries,” says Morocco’s ambassador to the U.S., Youssef Amrani.

American diplomats note that as far back as December 1777, while the U.S. was fighting for independence from Britain, Morocco’s Sultan Mohammed III announced that vessels sailing under the American flag could freely enter Moroccan ports. Though a formal relationship was years away, the sultan’s overture, made to spur trade, was the new nation’s first formal recognition by a foreign power.

After that, the relationship survived a rocky period. The U.S. was slow to trade with Morocco, despite the sultan’s interest. The Second Continental Congress in 1780 did express a desire for peace and friendship but delayed any formal trade ties. (Today, the countries enjoy strong bilateral trade, more than $7 billion in 2024, and U.S. companies’ investment in Morocco places the United States among the top five countries investing in Morocco.)

In October 1784, Moroccans captured an American merchant ship to force negotiations. Talks began and eventually brought the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, which set the course for what has become the longest formal bilateral relationship in U.S. history.

During the intervening years, Morocco gave the United States one of the finest buildings in Tangier for the U.S. delegation. The Tangier American Legation housed U.S. diplomats for 140 years, from the 1820s until the 1960s. Now a museum, the Tangier Old Legation is America’s only National Historic Site outside the United States and an enduring symbol of a relationship that has benefited both countries.

During World War II, U.S. troops stationed in Morocco fought against the Nazi invasion of North Africa. Today, Morocco and the United States conduct joint military exercises and are partners in the fight against terrorism.

In 2020, Morocco normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered agreement. And in April this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio commended Morocco’s “leadership in contributing to a better tomorrow for Israeli, Palestinians, and all the region’s people.”

As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in the coming year, Morocco remains an old friend.