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Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, and newly sworn-in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed bilateral ties on a phone call on Monday, in which they reaffirmed their joint commitment to boost cooperation at all levels.
A statement from the State Department said that the two top diplomats discussed ways to work together in “advancing regional and global peace and security under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.”
Bourita and Rubio also delved into the situation in Gaza, including the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages.
The January 19 ceasefire agreement put an end to Israel’s genocidal war against civilians in Gaza, and negotiations are expected to start to determine the second phase of the deal between Hamas and the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). In addition to a ceasefire, Bourita and Rubio also discussed Morocco’s humanitarian aid shipments that were sent to civilians in Gaza during the genocide.
Morocco has been rallying for Gaza, hosting hundreds of protests across the country. In addition to condemning international inaction and in the case of the US – support – for the genocide, Moroccans have taken to the streets to call for an end to Morocco’s ties with Israel. The Moroccan government has been responding to such calls by reassuring citizens that its ties with Israel do not represent its position on the Palestinian cause.
The North African country frequently reiterates its unwavering support in this matter, and Palestinian officials have long commended the country’s backing of Palestine’s independence.
Morocco is also among the countries that welcomed the ceasefire deal, hoping that the agreement could lead to permanent, tangible results.
“In numerous speeches since the outbreak of the crisis, His Majesty has emphasized that the urgent priority is to establish a ceasefire. In multiple statements his Majesty has also specified that this ceasefire must be permanent, monitorable, and lead to a sustainable pathway,” Bourita said.
In regards to Bourita and Rubio’s talks, the statement detailed that the two diplomats “committed to cooperate intensively in advancing shared interests in the region and ending conflicts, including building on the Abraham Accords,” and that they also affirmed the importance of expanding trade, investment, and commercial cooperation.
The US and Morocco share good bilateral ties, including positive trade cooperation based on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
According to a study shared by the US embassy, trade between the two countries “quadrupled during the 2006-2018 period, reaching about $5.44 billion in 2018 compared to $1.34 billion in 2006. This increase is due to both exports and imports.”
