During a meeting in Washington today, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between Rabat and Washington and its role in promoting stability in the Middle East, Africa, and North Africa.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Free Trade Agreement also known as FTA.
Morocco and the US signed the FTA in 2004 but the agreement went into effect in 2006, contributing to boosting trade ties and cooperation between the two countries.
Blinken and Bourita also discussed military ties, including the joint army drill called the African Lion, the largest military exercise on the African continent.
During this meeting, which is part of the ongoing political consultations between the two countries, Bourita and Blinken discussed various aspects of the Morocco-US partnership, as well as several regional and international issues.
In a press statement before the talks, which took place at the State Department, Blinken emphasized that his country places “"great importance” " on its partnership with Morocco, “particularly in support of stability in the Middle East, as well as in Africa and North Africa.”
“Morocco is an essential partner of the United States, and I highly value the relationship between our two countries,”" said Blinken.
Bourita echoed the same statement, noting that these discussions with his US counterpart provide an opportunity to coordinate actions between the two countries within the framework of their strategic partnership.
“We are partners for peace. This partnership is all the more vital in a context marked by escalations in the Middle East and problems in the Sahel, Libya, and Europe,” said Bourita.