US Commends Morocco’s Leading Role in Climate Action, Maintaining Stability

Rabat – The US has commended Morocco’s role in creating more renewable energy, and its commitment to maintaining regional security and stability.

“The Kingdom should be applauded for its recognized leadership in climate action,” the US State Department said in a press release on Monday following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the north African country.

The release added that Morocco plays a pivotal role in using more renewable energy, with 45% of all electricity now produced from renewable sources, adding “the world should take note” of the country’s plans to produce more than 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.

During Blinken’s working visit to cement Morocco-US relations and exchange views on regional political issues and bilateral cooperation, the US highlighted the kingdom’s role in maintaining regional security.

“We appreciate Morocco as a stable security-exporting partner, for its leadership of the Global Counterterrorism Forum and for its sustaining role in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,” the press release said.

It added that both countries are committed to continuing cooperation on areas of shared interest such as the Sahel, Libya, and Ukraine crisis.

The press release noted that Morocco and the US are committed to the “sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya and the priority for organizing national elections in the near term.”

The two countries are also boosting cooperation in joint military exercises and are currently preparing for the 2022 African Lion military exercise, the largest military exercise in Africa where the two armies will practise working together and exchange information and expertise.

The excericse is part of Morocco’s commitment to international military coalitions to fight against terrorism and other emerging global security threats.

The 2022 African Lion, which is an essential component for the Morocco-US security partnership, is expected to take place between June 20 to July 21 in the regions of Agadir, Tantan, Mahbas, Taroudant, Kenitra, and Bengruir.

The US also highlighted its active engagement alongside Morocco on human rights issues to strengthen freedoms of expression, women’s rights, gender equality, and government transparency.

The US reiterated its position to support Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, noting it is a “potential approach to meet the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara.”

The statement also recalled Morocco’s normalization of relations with Israel and the re-opening of the Israeli liaison office in Rabat.

The US Secretary of State and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita attended the Negev Summit in Israel last week alongside officials from the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt to promote peace in the region.

Morocco’s relations with Israel have been steadily improving since the two countries signed a normalization agreement under the auspices of the US in December 2020 in which they agreed to establish a good working relationship.