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Marrakech – The Royal Moroccan Navy frigate RMNS Mohammed VI sailed alongside more than 35 warships from 15 nations on the Hudson River July 4, taking part in International Naval Review 250 as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence.
The Moroccan frigate and the Senegalese Navy offshore patrol vessel Niani were the only two African warships integrated into the multinational formation. The formal review ran from 7:15 to 9 a.m. as a reviewing ship transited the assembled fleet in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
The US Navy said the Mohammed VI’s participation demonstrated the Royal Moroccan Navy’s capacity for long-range projection and endurance on distant theaters.
The operational presence draws on regular cooperation with US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, including training, port visits, professional exchanges, and large-scale exercises such as African Lion, Cutlass Express, and FLEETEX 250, as well as the African Maritime Forces Summit.
Beyond the two warships, naval and senior-level delegations from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon attended alongside representatives from Equatorial Guinea and Kenya. The seven African nations brought maritime perspectives from North, West, Central, and East Africa to the review.
When Morocco opened its ports to America in 1777
The Royal Moroccan Navy hosted an official reception aboard the frigate Monday, July 6, in New York. US Ambassador to Rabat Duke Buchan III and Moroccan Ambassador to Washington Youssef Amrani attended the ceremony, joined by several Moroccan and American civilian and military officials.
Rear Admiral El Mostafa Tarzi, commander of the Maritime Sector of the Southern Zone, told the gathering that Morocco’s participation in the 250th anniversary celebrations reflects “the longstanding friendship between Morocco and the United States, a relationship deeply rooted in history.”
He recalled that Morocco was the first country to recognize American independence in 1777 and noted that ties between the two nations have since built “an exceptional partnership founded on mutual respect, shared values, and a common commitment to peace, stability, and international security.”
At a time when the seas represent both opportunities and responsibilities, Tarzi added, the Royal Moroccan Navy and its American counterpart continue to strengthen a cooperation that has become “essential to preserving freedom of navigation, reinforcing maritime security, and promoting regional and global stability.”
He stated that the Royal Navy, guided by the vision of King Mohammed VI as Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), continues to modernize its capabilities while consolidating partnerships with allied navies worldwide.
Buchan reminded attendees that long before the US Navy built its first frigate, Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah had opened Moroccan ports to American ships in 1777 – a step he described not as a minor gesture but as “a lifeline allowing a young republic to find its place in the world.”
He affirmed that the frigate’s presence at the celebrations stands as “a reminder of our shared history and our friendship.” The US ambassador also pointed to a security partnership “stronger today than ever,” noting that Morocco participates annually in more than one hundred US-organized military activities and exercises.
Buchan added that President Donald Trump stands “firmly alongside Morocco,” including through his support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as “the sole basis for a just and lasting solution to the question of the Moroccan Sahara.”
Amrani, for his part, welcomed US support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara and for the Autonomy Plan as the only solution to what he termed an “artificial dispute.”
He framed the Royal Navy’s participation in the event as a display that “powerfully embodies one of the oldest, strongest, and most enduring strategic partnerships in American history.” Morocco’s history with the United States, he added, is “remarkable,” and “what makes this partnership truly exceptional is not only where it comes from, but also where it is going.”
At the close of the ceremony, the commanding officer of the frigate Mohammed VI presented Rear Admiral Bradley Andros with a painting depicting the Moroccan warship anchored off New York, the city’s skyline visible in the background.
International Naval Review 250 activities continue through July 8, with public ship tours, professional exchanges, senior-leader engagements, military performances, and community events across the New York metropolitan area.
