The Maghreb Arabe Press Agency (MAP) held the very first international edition of its Town Hall in Washington on Thursday, marking the 250th anniversary of the historic and exceptional partnership and alliance between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.
Held under the theme "Kingdom of Morocco - United States of America: From Historic Partnership to Strategic Alliance," this event takes place against the backdrop of renewed strategic momentum in ties between Rabat and Washington, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump.
This positive development is particularly evident in the United States’ 2020 recognition of Morocco’s full and complete sovereignty over its Sahara, an unequivocal position that reaffirms the Kingdom’s central role in emerging strategic dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa.
Speaking at the event, MAP Director General Fouad Arif stated that holding the first international MAP Town Hall in Washington reflects the core mission of Morocco's national news agency, which does not merely report events but also works to create spaces where ideas, perspectives, and strategic thinking converge.
As a public media institution, MAP seeks to become not only a producer of information but also a facilitator of dialogue between Morocco and the world, Arif stated.
Referring to the strategic relations between Morocco and the United States, which are celebrating their 250th anniversary this year, the Director General of MAP praised one of the oldest diplomatic partnerships in modern history, noting that Morocco was the first nation worldwide to recognize the independence of the United States in 1777.
This special relationship was further strengthened by signing the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1786, one of the oldest treaties still in force in American diplomatic history, he emphasized.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, this uninterrupted relationship continued to deepen, from Tangier Legation—the first American diplomatic property abroad—to the Anfa Conference during World War II; from Morocco’s independence to its designation as a major non-NATO ally, from the Free Trade Agreement to the Strategic Dialogue, and ultimately to the historic recognition by the United States of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara in 2020, Arif noted.
To him, this is not simply a succession of historical milestone events, but the story of a relationship that has continually evolved while remaining remarkably consistent in its foundations.
Over more than two centuries, this partnership has evolved from recognition to friendship, from friendship to trust, and from trust to credibility, he continued.
This evolution has now given rise to a "genuine indispensable" alliance, thanks to the enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, he affirmed, noting that the Sovereign has consistently viewed the United States not merely as an ally, but as a strategic partner for Morocco’s long-term development.
This vision has remained remarkably consistent, Arif said, explaining that under the leadership of His Majesty the King, Morocco has transformed stability, reform, and long-term foresight into strategic assets, while institutional resilience has translated into international credibility and economic openness has resulted in strategic attractiveness.
In the same vein, the Director General of MAP highlighted Morocco’s "unique and strategic" position, which connects the United States not only to North Africa but also to the Atlantic, the Sahel, the Mediterranean, and the African continent as a whole.
The exceptional relationship between His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump has given this alliance decisive momentum, Arif stated.
In the same vein, he revisited the United States’ historic recognition of Morocco’s full and complete sovereignty over its Sahara, noting that this announcement represented much more than just a significant diplomatic decision.
It constituted a powerful expression of confidence in Morocco’s strategic role and in the stability, reliability, and vision that the Kingdom brings to an international environment marked by growing uncertainty, he said, adding that this dynamic continues today to shape an alliance based not merely on common interests, but on shared strategic perspectives.
Holding the very first international edition of MAP Town Hall in Washington comes at a time when the historic relations between Morocco and the United States have been marked by a renewed strategic depth in recent years, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Donald Trump.
Featuring a diverse array of political, diplomatic, academic, cultural, and media figures in Washington, as well as several representatives from influential American think tanks, this inaugural event aimed to explore—through panel discussions and fruitful exchanges—the past, present, and future of the strategic alliance between Rabat and Washington.
MAP: 02 July 2026
