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Join on Telegram Rabat – After the US Charge d’Affaires David Greene unveiled the new cultural exhibition at Morocco’s National Library in Rabat on June 9, Morocco World News spoke with two high ranking US military officials on the role that Morocco plays in regional peacekeeping.
The ribbon cutting event coincided with the annual African Lion joint military exercise taking place in Morocco.
Read also: Morocco’s Armed Forces Gear Up for African Lion 2021 Military Exercise
Major General Michael J. Turley and Captain Lewis of the Utah National Guard commended Morocco’s role in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
“The US favors Morocco’s leadership in the greater Maghreb,” said Maj. General Turley.
In addition, the senior military official noted that Morocco “exports peace and security in the region.”
Morocco’s excellent track record in the Maghreb has made it a regional leader as Morocco continues to hold diplomatic discussions for establishing peace in Libya. Additionally, many global actors have commended Morocco’s restraint when responding to the Polisario Front’s antics in Western Sahara.
When asked about the people-to-people relations between the US service members and members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), the Maj. General cited a “high level of professionalism” on the part of the Moroccan military.
Throughout the event, which ultimately commemorated the bicentennial anniversary of the establishment of the American Tangier Legation, the US Charge d’Affaires stressed the importance of people-to-people relations.
Although the US and Morocco have enjoyed strong relations since the Sultanate of Moulay Slimane, the personal relations between everyday people are what make the relationship thrive.
Both military officials elaborated on how the people-to-people relations manifest through the US military and FAR.
State Partnership Program
Since 2003, the Utah National Guard has had a personal relationship with Morocco under the National Guard’s State Partnership Program (SPP).
According to the SPP webpage, “ the National Guard conducts military-to-military engagements in support of defense security goals but also leverages whole-of-society relationships and capabilities to facilitate broader interagency and corollary engagements spanning military, government, economic and social spheres.
Through the SPP, the service members from both countries have the opportunity to join forces annually and exchange cultures and humanity.
“I’ve been coming back-and-forth to Morocco for 10 years and I love it,” Maj. General Turley said.
The SPP sponsors a program in which children from Utah National Guard families come to live with a family of the FAR and vice-versa. By exchanging more than just military knowledge, the militaries of both partner nations are able to promote stronger relations that embody the shared values between the US and Morocco.
