Morocco and U.S. Forge Strategic Defense Partnership

In 1777, Morocco became the first nation to recognize the United States. That history was recalled not during an academic lecture but in the Pentagon, where senior American defense officials met with representatives from Morocco. The discussions marked the conclusion of a new 10-year Defense Cooperation Roadmap.

From April 14 to 16, under the directive of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a Moroccan delegation participated in the Morocco-U.S. Defense Consultative Committee held in Washington. The meetings were purposeful and aimed at future collaboration, rather than merely maintaining historical ties. The roadmap outlines cooperation from 2026 to 2036 in defense industry development, cybersecurity, advanced technologies, and operational integration.

This framework strengthens what is already a robust defense partnership on the African continent. Both parties understood that implementing these plans will be more challenging than signing them. Under Secretary Elbridge Colby emphasized at the signing, “This roadmap will guide our historic defense relationship for the next decade, building on a partnership that began 250 years ago when Morocco was the first nation to recognize the United States.”

Later, the Moroccan delegation visited the U.S. National Archives to see the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. This treaty highlights the depth and enduring relevance of Morocco-U.S. diplomatic relations, which were established before America secured its global power.

Morocco’s early recognition of the U.S. created a foundation of trust that has persisted through changes in government, conflicts, alliances, and global transformations. This trust is demonstrated in practical terms today, such as the African Lion 2026 exercise that opened in Morocco this week. Over 5,000 personnel from more than 40 countries are participating across Moroccan regions, making it the U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual joint exercise.

Morocco remains a key operational partner for the U.S. in African Lion, focusing on regional security. The exercise includes live-fire training, special operations coordination, command-and-control integration, and technology testing. Involvement from over 30 American defense technology companies underscores Morocco’s role as a platform for innovation and regional capability building.

African Lion is thus more than an exercise; it demonstrates sustained partnership through trust, interoperability, technology, and leadership. In a region where some opt for form over function and face strategic isolation, Morocco’s approach is significant.

The U.S. is establishing Africa’s first permanent drone training hub in Morocco.

Morocco was chosen for its reliability and stability, but also because it has fostered a broader vision beyond bilateral defense. This vision includes initiatives like the Atlantic Initiative, providing ocean access for Sahel nations, the African Atlantic gas pipeline linking energy to European markets, and a domestic reform process enhancing governance.

Morocco is defining its strategic role, forging connections between Africa, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Europe, and the Arab world. For the U.S., the effectiveness and durability of its partnership with Morocco serve as a model for engagement in Africa.

Discussions in Washington focused on how to transform the 10-year roadmap into a decade of innovation in doctrine, technology, and joint operational speed for Moroccan and American forces. The signing was the first step towards that transformation.

In the Pentagon, a relationship grounded in trust and practicality was evident. At the National Archives, the treaty that reinforced this relationship was a testament to Morocco’s strategic judgment. Initially made in uncertainty, this judgment has become a monument to history and a working alliance, continuously tested and deepened.

Youssef Amrani is Morocco’s ambassador to the U.S.