Doha – Career diplomat Aimee Cutrona assumed duties as Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Morocco on Sunday, ushering in new diplomatic leadership as the United States prepares for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration today.
Cutrona, a senior Foreign Service officer who has served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Rabat since July 2022, steps into the role following Ambassador Puneet Talwar’s scheduled departure after more than two years of service.
Before her tenure in Morocco, she served as the Director of the Office of Levant Affairs at the Department of State and held the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Levant Affairs in Washington, DC.
The diplomatic transition coincides with President-elect Trump’s second inauguration, which will take place indoors at the Capitol Rotunda due to forecasted freezing temperatures of -6 degrees Celsius.
The change in venue was a disappointment for Trump’s supporters, who have flocked to the US capital by the thousands, as the inauguration ceremony is usually open for public viewing.
However, Trump held a large rally yesterday within the Capital One Arena, marking the last time his base would see him before he takes the Oval Office.
The venue change mirrors Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, the only other presidential ceremony held in the Rotunda, when temperatures plunged to -14 degrees Celsius.
The ceremony, scheduled for noon Eastern Time on Monday, has emerged as a watershed moment for inaugural fundraising, with a record-breaking $170 million raised as of January 8.
Major tech industry figures have rallied behind the event, with Apple’s Tim Cook, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman each contributing $1 million to the inauguration fund.
Open horizons for US-Morocco relations
The incoming administration has already signaled strong support for US-Morocco relations. Marco Rubio, Trump’s incoming Secretary of State, reinforced America’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara during his Senate confirmation hearing on January 15.
During the five-hour confirmation session, the 53-year-old Secretary of State-designate emphasized opportunities in “counter-terrorism and economic development” in the region.
The stance aligns with Trump’s historic 2020 decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.
This position was amplified by Congressman Joe Wilson, who chairs the US-Morocco Caucus in the House of Representatives, describing Morocco as “an essential partner of the United States for 250 years.”
This position received further institutional backing as the CIA recently updated its official maps to show Western Sahara as an integral part of Morocco.
The agency’s website now explicitly states that “in 2020, the US recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over all of Western Sahara.”
During his confirmation hearing, Rubio specifically touched upon Morocco’s progress, stating, “to the north, of Morocco, where we are seeing substantial advances, thanks to the Agreements [Abraham Accords], but also thanks to a relationship that continues to build.”
The bilateral relationship traces back to 1777, when Morocco became the first nation to recognize the newly independent United States.
Today, Morocco holds the status of Major non-NATO Ally and remains the only African nation with a US free trade agreement.
The partnership encompasses regional security, economic cooperation, and development initiatives, with Morocco increasingly positioned as a key partner in regional stability and global trade.
As Cutrona begins her tenure at the embassy, she brings extensive diplomatic experience from previous postings in Bahrain, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Qatar, and Egypt. Her diplomatic career began in 1999 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She holds a master’s degree in international relations and conflict management from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and is a graduate of Smith College.
Read also: State Department Magazine: US Determined to Boost Bilateral Ties with Morocco
