Morocco and the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of their friendship and cooperation on Thursday in Astana, during a ceremony jointly organized by the diplomatic missions of both countries in Kazakhstan.
Held at the residence of the Kingdom of Morocco in Kazakhstan, the event featured speeches highlighting Morocco’s historic role in its relations with the United States, as well as the key milestones that have shaped their diplomatic partnership.
On this occasion, Morocco’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Mohamed Rachid Maaninou, recalled that in 1777, Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah opened Moroccan ports to American ships, becoming the first sovereign to extend support to the newly established American nation.
This gesture was formalized in 1786 through the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two countries. Still in force today, the treaty represents the oldest uninterrupted treaty relationship in American history, the Moroccan diplomat noted.
For her part, US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie Stufft praised Morocco’s support for the United States during its early years, recalling that in 1777, “the United States was a fragile republic fighting for its survival.”
“Before we had a Constitution, we had a friend in Morocco. Two and a half centuries later, that friendship is stronger than ever,” she said, referring to a letter from US President George Washington to Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah, in which he described him as a “great and magnanimous friend.”
Both ambassadors also highlighted the historical significance of the American Legation in Tangier, which was presented to the United States in 1821 by Sultan Moulay Slimane and became the first property acquired abroad by the US government.
With the inauguration of the new US Consulate General in Casablanca in 2026, Morocco is now home to both the oldest and the newest American diplomatic missions abroad.
“Two centuries separate these two buildings, yet both stand on Moroccan soil, each bearing witness in its own way to the continuity and vitality of our friendship,” Maaninou said, emphasizing that bilateral ties have evolved into a strategic partnership spanning defense and security, trade and investment, as well as political dialogue.
The diplomat also recalled the historic visits of the late King Mohammed V to the United States in 1957 and King Mohammed VI’s visit to Washington in November 2013, which gave fresh momentum to bilateral relations.
Maaninou further referred to the United States’ 2020 decision to support Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara, as well as the naming of the Tiznit-Dakhla highway.
“This initiative reflects the high regard His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, attaches to the historic and friendly decision taken by the United States in 2020,” he said.
For her part, Ambassador Stufft praised the Sovereign’s vision, stating that under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has become a pillar of stability in its region.
The US diplomat also recalled Morocco’s accession to the Abraham Accords in 2020, noting that the Kingdom had demonstrated “real courage and vision in choosing peace.”
Concluding his remarks, Maaninou expressed the hope that “from the first act of recognition and friendship to today’s strategic partnership, Morocco and the United States will continue to build a relationship that unites our peoples, our institutions and our aspirations.”
The ceremony, attended by members of the diplomatic corps and distinguished guests, also featured a photographic exhibition retracing meetings between American presidents and Moroccan sovereigns across generations.
