Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Rabat – A bipartisan group of US senators reaffirmed on Friday in Rabat the US’ commitment to continue strengthening diplomatic ties with Morocco.
The visit is part of the senators’ tour of the four Arab countries that signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords to normalize diplomatic ties with Israel.
Seven senators from a bipartisan delegation arrived in Morocco, where they held talks with senior officials — including Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch.
Leading the delegation alongside Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, Senator for Nevada Jacky Rosen opened her statement to the press by congratulating Morocco’s football team on their spectacular run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Press briefing of US senators visiting Morocco
“We are so proud of how [Morocco’s soccer team] represented your country to the world,” Rosen told the press in a press briefing following the senators’ meeting with Bourita.
Expressing gratitude for Morocco’s hospitality, Rosen recalled the solidity of the US-Morocco ties and stressed the American delegation’s satisfaction with their meetings with Moroccan officials.
“What we saw, what we’ve heard, and what we are here to learn is how we can build upon the normalization process, the Negev summit, and how it can create peace and prosperity in the region,” Rosen said.
The US Senator then described Morocco as one of the US ‘oldest friends, and reaffirmed the US’ commitment to strengthening and deepening its partnership with the North African kingdom.
Oklahoma Senator Lankford echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing Morocco’s importance as an ally to the US.
“Morocco is our oldest friend, we treasure this friendship and relations for more than two centuries,” the Oklahoma senator said, stressing his country’s commitment to continue to build upon the partnership with Morocco to increase trade, national security, and interactions.
US Senators press briefing in Rabat, Morocco
Stressing Morocco’s continued leadership in North Africa and beyond, the senator said that the Rabat-Washington friendship and relations is “significant.”
The office of the Moroccan head of government also stressed the importance of the senators’ visit to Morocco, recalling the depth of the strategic relations between the two countries.
During his meeting with the US senatorial delegation, Akhannouch recalled that the free trade agreement between the two countries enabled to quadruple the volume of trade which rose from $4.5 to $5 billion since its entry into force in 2006.
Morocco and the US signed the FTA agreement in 2004.
Akhannouch also spoke of Morocco’s gratitude for the American programs supporting Morocco’s economic development, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
