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Rabat – Morocco and the United States are marking 250 years of diplomatic friendship, one of the longest-running relationships in US history.
The Moroccan-American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE) hosted an event titled “250 Years of Moroccan-American Friendship” to recognize the milestone.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Tangier American Legation Institute for Moroccan Studies (TALIM) and the US Mission to Morocco.
The program took place at the Tangier American Legation, a historic site known as the oldest US diplomatic facility in the world. Organizers said the location was chosen because it has long served as a meeting place for major moments in US-Morocco history.
During the event, speakers recalled Morocco’s role as the first country to recognize US independence in 1777 and traced how ties between the two countries have grown over nearly two and a half centuries.
The gathering brought together cultural and academic partners, Fulbright alumni, policymakers, civil society leaders, and members of the US Mission for a moderated discussion and a networking reception.
Panelists said the relationship has expanded beyond diplomacy to include cooperation on security, trade, scientific research, and technology, built on shared goals such as peace, stability, and mutual prosperity.
They also stated that trust built over generations continues to shape cooperation today, including joint work on regional and global challenges.
A major focus of the program was the importance of people-to-people exchange, especially through the Fulbright Program, which will mark its 80th anniversary in 2026. Posters displayed at the event featured Moroccans who studied in the US through Fulbright and other US exchange programs, as well as Americans who have contributed to Morocco’s academic and civic life.
“This anniversary reminds us that the strength of the Moroccan-American relationship lies not only in treaties and institutions, but in people,” said Rebecca Geffner, Executive Director of MACECE. She said education and exchange programs have helped develop leaders and scholars who continue to strengthen the relationship.
Jen Rasamimanana, executive director of TALIM, also pointed to the Legation’s role in history. She referenced key events connected to the site, including talks linked to the Cap Spartel Treaty and planning during World War II.
Rasamimanana said the institute was pleased to continue that tradition by hosting a program tied to America’s 250th anniversary and the long partnership with Morocco.
The discussion featured three speakers, including Karim Bejjit, a Fulbright alumnus and scholar of Moroccan-American relations, who spoke about the historical roots of the partnership, Nick Barnett, public affairs counselor at the US Mission to Morocco, who discussed security cooperation and the strategic relationship, and Chaker El Amrani, a Fulbright alumnus and professor at Abdelmalek Essaadi University, who focused on higher education and research collaboration.
