Bourita, US Security Advisor Cement Bilateral Cooperation in Washington
Doha – Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita spearheaded strategic talks with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz in Washington on Tuesday. The high-stakes diplomatic visit propels the strategic alliance between the two countries forward.
The talks between Bourita and Waltz focused on the multidimensional strategic partnership between Morocco and the United States, along with regional issues of mutual interest. The meeting precedes Bourita's scheduled talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later in the day.
The diplomatic drive marks Bourita's first in-person engagement with senior US officials since Trump's January return to the White House. The timing crystallizes ahead of the UN Security Council's Western Sahara discussions set for April 14.
The visit amplifies momentum from Bourita and Rubio's January 27 phone exchange. During that call, both diplomats stressed 'the importance of the strategic partnership between the two nations in service of regional and international peace and security.'
Rubio has fortified his stance on Morocco's territorial sovereignty. During his January confirmation hearing, he proclaimed: 'If you look towards the west of Africa, there are real opportunities in progress, not only regarding counter-terrorism but also economic development.'
He declared: 'To the north, in Morocco, we are seeing substantial advances, thanks to the Agreements.'
Read also: Western Sahara: American Think Tank Calls on Trump to End UN Mission
The Secretary of State doubled down on America's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara during his Senate hearing. This position galvanizes Trump's landmark 2020 proclamation backing Moroccan territorial integrity.
This recognition was reinforced by the CIA's January update of its official map to show Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco. The intelligence agency explicitly states on its website that 'in 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara.'
The US House of Representatives catapulted bilateral ties forward with Resolution 251. The measure charts the celebration of 250 years of unbroken US-Morocco diplomatic relations in 2027.
Morocco commands recognition as America's first diplomatic ally, having acknowledged US independence in 1777.
The US-Morocco partnership spans multiple sectors, propelling bilateral trade from $1.34 billion in 2006 to $5.44 billion in 2018 through the Free Trade Agreement.
Morocco stands as the only African nation to secure such a trade pact with the United States, emerging as America's 46th largest export market in 2024.
The partnership intensifies through comprehensive military cooperation. Joint African Lion exercises since 2007 anchor defense collaboration.
Counter-terrorism initiatives mesh with nuclear nonproliferation efforts and operations to combat illicit arms trafficking. Both nations leverage their alliance to fortify regional security architecture and advance global peace initiatives under King Mohammed VI's leadership. Tags: Morocco US RelationsNasser Bourita
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