Rabat – Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert held talks with Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita in Algiers.
The US State Department for Near Eastern Affairs said the two officials held talks on the sidelines of the Arab League Summit held in Algiers on November 1-2.
Recalling that the US and Morocco share a “deep and historic partnership,” the US department said the pairs discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues. Bourita and Lempert also spoke about Morocco’s “key role in fostering stability in the region.”
Morocco and the US share regular political dialogue as part of their determination to boost security cooperation.
In September, the head of Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security Abdellatif Hammouchi met with American Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
The meeting served as an opportunity for both countries to discuss regional security issues, including emerging threats from terrorist organizations and organized crime.
The two security officials also discussed cooperation between Morocco and the US in the security field, and how to improve it to “the level of the current strategic cooperation between the two countries,” a communique from the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) added.
Earlier this year in March, Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the same sentiments, emphasizing Morocco’s contribution to regional peace, security, and stability.
The official also expressed satisfaction with Morocco’s efforts against counterterrorism.
In addition to security, both countries also cooperate in other fields, including trade. The two countries have signed a Free Trade agreement (FTA), which came into force in 2006.
Morocco is the US 63rd largest goods trading partner with $3.5 billion. According to the US Trade Representative, the US goods trade “surplus with Morocco was $1.9 billion in 2019.”
