US Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan Sworn In by VP J.D. Vance

Marrakech – The newly appointed US Ambassador to Morocco, Richard Duke Buchan III, was officially sworn in by Vice President J.D. Vance to begin his diplomatic mission in the North African country.

“Ambassador Buchan is proud to be sworn in by his good friend Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance. The Ambassador looks forward to advancing our excellent 250-year relationship with Morocco,” the US Embassy in Rabat announced today on its official social media platforms.

The swearing-in ceremony crowns a months-long diplomatic process set in motion in March 2025, when President Donald Trump first unveiled Buchan’s nomination on his Truth Social platform, formally launching his path to high office. “I am pleased to announce that Duke Buchan III will serve as the US ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco,” Trump wrote at the time.

Ambassador Buchan is proud to be sworn in by his good friend Vice President of the United States J.D. Vance. The Ambassador looks forward to advancing our excellent 250-year relationship with Morocco. pic.twitter.com/BIYTmRpETQ

— U.S. Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) January 7, 2026

Buchan officially arrived in Rabat in December and marked his first moments in the country by raising the American flag over his residence with assistance from US Marines.

He subsequently presented his credentials as “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America” to Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita for transmission to King Mohammed VI.

The US Senate confirmed Buchan’s appointment on October 7 following his confirmation hearing on July 29 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He later took the oath of office on October 14.

During the hearing, he described Morocco as “a pillar of stability” and stressed his long-standing connection to the country. “I’ve been traveling to Morocco for over 40 years. It’s a beautiful, fascinating, and strategic country,” Buchan stated.

The ambassador outlined his priorities during his Senate appearance, declaring that “if confirmed, my highest priority will be the safety and security of American citizens in Morocco.”

He also reaffirmed US support for Morocco’s position on Western Sahara, supporting the Moroccan autonomy proposal as “the only viable basis for a just and lasting solution.”

Many observers expect that Washington’s physical diplomatic presence in Western Sahara will finally materialize during his tenure. Massad Boulos, senior advisor to President Trump, reaffirmed in October that the US will open a consulate in Morocco’s southern provinces.

“This is the Moroccan Sahara. As we know, President Trump has affirmed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and emphasized the need for a lasting solution to this issue,” Boulos stated in an interview with Asharq News, pledging to replace the current Virtual Presence Post established in December 2020.

Buchan brings extensive diplomatic and business experience to his new role. He previously served as US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2017 to 2021 during Trump’s first administration.

More recently, he held the position of National Finance Chairman of the Republican National Committee, where he and his team raised a record $1.2 billion for the 2024 presidential campaign.

Born in 1963 in North Carolina, Buchan studied economics and Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before earning an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1991. He also pursued studies at universities in Valencia and Seville, Spain, as well as institutions in France and Belgium.

The ambassador is the founder and CEO of Hunter Global Investors, a private asset management firm he established in New York in 2001 before relocating its headquarters to Palm Beach, Florida. His business career included senior positions at Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York, where he served as Vice President of the Global Financial Institutions group.

Buchan has traveled, lived, and conducted business in more than 50 countries, including Morocco, over four decades. He speaks fluent Spanish, has mastery of French, and possesses operational knowledge of Catalan, Italian, and German.

The appointment comes as US-Morocco relations celebrate nearly 250 years of diplomatic ties. Morocco was the first country to recognize American independence in 1777, with the relationship formalized through the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the oldest unbroken treaty in US history.

Total goods trade between the two countries reached $7.2 billion in 2024, with American goods exports standing at $5.3 billion – a 37.3 % increase compared to 2023.

This growth occurs within the framework of the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on June 15, 2004, and in force since January 1, 2006, which has progressively reduced trade barriers and expanded market access for both sides.

Morocco maintains Major Non-NATO Ally status since 2004 and continues hosting the African Lion military exercises, described as the largest military maneuvers in Africa.

Ambassador Buchan is married to Hannah and has three children, all of whom hold the Eagle Scout rank. He continues to manage family agricultural operations in North Carolina and northern New York, where he cultivates truffles, over 100 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, and raises horses.