News
Monday 19 October 2020

David Schenker :US Welcome Continued, Valuable Leadership of HM the King on Issues of Common Interest

David Schenker :US Welcome Continued, Valuable Leadership of HM the King on Issues of Common Interes

The United States welcome the continued and valuable leadership of HM King Mohammed VI in addressing issues of common interest such as peace in the Middle East and stability, security, and development across the region and the African continent, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, said Monday in Rabat.

The Kingdom is a "close partner" of the United States in a range of security-related issues. It participates annually in more than 100 U.S. military engagements yearly including Operation African Lion, Schenker told reporters following talks with minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita.

Part of his recent visit to Morocco, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signed a ten-year Roadmap for Defense cooperation (2020-2030), "a symbol of our long term and strategic cooperation," Schenker added.

He also recalled that Morocco is the only African country to be associated with the United States under a free trade agreement, adding that the Kingdom, gateway to the continent, is home to more than 150 American companies that offer significant employment opportunities.

The two countries will celebrate next year the 15th anniversary of the entry into force of this agreement, which has contributed to the intensification of bilateral trade, he said.

Next year, the two countries will also celebrate 200 years of friendship and mark the bicentennial of the American Legation in Tangier, the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world, underlined the U.S. official who was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, David T. Fischer.

He stressed that his meetings with Bourita were an opportunity to discuss the ways to strengthen the "strategic partnership" between the two countries, which is already anchored under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, noting that the two countries are working together to address the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

"The United States government has partnered with the Kingdom of Morocco to invest millions of dollars in Morocco’s Covid-19 response. This assistance has helped prepare laboratory systems, improve Covid-19 case detection and surveillance and support technical experts, among other areas," the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs underlined.

"As a sign of our long-term commitment to Morocco, we are about to start construction of one of our newest diplomatic properties, a $312 million Consulate General facility in Casablanca," he added.

Schenker's visit to Morocco is part of a tour of the U.S. senior diplomat (October 12-21) which began in Lebanon and is expected to end in the United Kingdom.

MAP 19 October 2020