The deep roots and strategic impact of the US-Morocco alliance

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From a two-century-old friendship treaty to a 1,000-kilometer highway in Western Sahara renamed in honor of a US president, the bond between the United States and Morocco has always stood apart. This week, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI renamed a major desert route after former US President Donald Trump, a gesture widely seen as gratitude for Washington’s backing of Rabat’s claim to the disputed territory.

The move followed a dramatic surge of over 70,000 people crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, resulting in at least 140 deaths and sparking a deepening migration crisis. While the crisis unfolded, Washington’s response underscored the strength of its ties with the North African kingdom.

Rather than questioning Morocco—from where the mass migration originated—the US administration framed the events as a “catastrophe” akin to an “invasion,” criticized Spain’s immigration policies, and condemned what it called “left-wing globalist politics.” This stance has raised eyebrows in Madrid, a NATO ally that hosts American forces at bases in Rota and Morón.

Though Morocco is not a member of the Atlantic alliance, it remains one of Washington’s key military and intelligence partners in North Africa. To understand how this relationship evolved, the mutual benefits it brings, and its influence on current events, we examine the historical pillars of this alliance.

Early foundations of a unique partnership

Despite vast geographical and cultural distances, the United States and Morocco established early diplomatic ties that set the stage for a lasting alliance.

In 1776, the same year the United States declared independence from the British Empire, Morocco was an independent sultanate ruled by the Alaouite dynasty—still in power today. By 1777, just a year and a half after America’s founding, Sultan Mohammed III opened Morocco’s ports to American ships, a move Rabat later hailed as the first international recognition of the new nation.

The US State Department’s Office of the Historian, however, places this milestone on June 23, 1786—the date the Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed in Marrakech. For the young American republic, this agreement was vital: with the British navy no longer protecting its merchant vessels, US ships were vulnerable to raids by Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, and Tripolitan corsairs who seized ships and held crews for ransom.

The treaty guaranteed safe passage for American ships in Moroccan waters, unlocked new trade opportunities, and strengthened the new nation’s international standing. “Morocco’s strategic location at the gateway to the Mediterranean and its ties to Europe, Africa, and the Islamic world gave the United States a crucial foothold in its quest for global recognition and commercial expansion,” explains Timothy W. Kneeland, professor of history and political science at Nazareth University in New York.

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The treaty was renegotiated in 1836 and remains in force today. “As Moroccans often point out, the 1786 treaty is the oldest continuously active agreement in US diplomatic history,” notes Sarah Yerkes, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace specializing in US foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa.

However, close ties did not immediately follow. When Morocco was divided in 1912 into French and Spanish protectorates, the US hesitated to recognize the new colonial order before finally doing so in 1917. After Morocco regained independence in March 1956, the United States promptly recognized the new state and opened its embassy in Rabat within three months.

Security, trade, and Western Sahara

Security cooperation between the two nations began long before Morocco’s independence. In 1950, while Morocco was still under French rule, Washington and Paris agreed to develop several air bases in the country.

Two decades later, the United States provided decisive support to its North African ally. In November 1975, as Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco lay dying, Morocco’s King Hassan II organized the Green March, mobilizing 350,000 civilians to pressure Spain into ceding control of Western Sahara—a territory west of the Canary Islands. Spain eventually transferred administration to Morocco and Mauritania.

Publicly, Washington claimed neutrality and advocated a negotiated solution, but declassified diplomatic records reveal a far closer alignment with Rabat. In 1974, Henry Kissinger told Hassan II that, if he were in the king’s position, he would act the same way. By January 1976, he acknowledged that the US had placed “no serious obstacles” in Morocco’s path regarding Western Sahara. Months later, a US diplomatic report described America’s stance as “essentially pro-Moroccan,” according to the State Department’s historical office.

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Security ties deepened significantly after the September 11 attacks. “Geopolitically, Morocco became a steadfast US ally in the fight against international terrorism,” says Professor Kneeland. In 2004, the George W. Bush administration designated Morocco a Major Non-NATO Ally, granting it privileged access to US military technology and cooperation.

Morocco hosts African Lion, the largest annual exercise run by US Africa Command (AFRICOM). The two nations jointly train special forces and co-chair the Africa group of the global coalition against ISIS, coordinating counterterrorism support across the continent. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States supplied 60% of Morocco’s major arms imports between 2021 and 2025—the highest share—followed by Israel (24%) and France (10%).

Economically, the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, implemented in 2006, was Washington’s first with an African nation. By 2025, bilateral trade had reached $7.4 billion—nearly eight times the $927 million recorded in 2005 before the pact took effect. While modest in the context of the US economy, where Morocco ranks as its 46th export market, the agreement has reshaped trade flows and economic ties.

Diplomatically, Morocco achieved a major victory in December 2020 when, at the end of Donald Trump’s first term, the US recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as part of the normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel. Washington continues to uphold this position and views Rabat’s autonomy plan as the only viable path to resolving the conflict. “Morocco is the most successful member of the Abraham Accords. Its normalization with Israel has endured despite the Gaza war and is now firmly established,” says researcher Yerkes.

The US-Morocco-Spain triangle under pressure

The Ceuta crisis has exposed strains within the triangle formed by the United States, Morocco, and Spain. The incident revealed the depth of the US-Morocco partnership at a moment when doubts are growing about Spain’s relations with both its North African neighbor and its transatlantic ally within NATO.

Spain is a key US military partner and relies on Morocco for managing its North African borders. Yet both alliances are now being tested.

While the Spanish government attributed the mass influx into Ceuta to human trafficking networks and social media, and even thanked Morocco for its cooperation, Spanish experts, politicians, and media have accused Rabat of orchestrating—or at least enabling—the crisis.

The Trump administration, however, sharply criticized Spain for its disagreement with NATO military spending ceilings and for blocking the use of bases in Rota and Morón for operations targeting Iran. These tensions came to the fore during the Ceuta crisis.

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Washington never explicitly endorsed Morocco’s version of events, nor did it demand explanations from Rabat or echo accusations of a deliberate loosening of border controls. Instead, Trump framed the crisis as a consequence of Spain’s immigration policies and openly challenged the government of Pedro Sánchez.

“I don’t think Washington views the Ceuta events as a Moroccan initiative. The White House was far more critical of Spain and what it sees as poor border management that triggered the crisis,” interprets researcher Yerkes.

The US response underscores the resilience of its alliance with Morocco, in contrast to the rising tensions with its NATO partner Spain. Analysts suggest Morocco could become an even more valuable US partner on security and logistics, especially after Spain blocked the use of its bases and airspace for strikes against Iran. In a message marking Morocco’s Throne Day—July 30, 1999, the date of King Mohammed VI’s enthronement—Trump reaffirmed the alliance’s direction.

“This year, we celebrate 250 years of American history and unshakable friendship with Morocco—a bond built on trust and mutual respect,” he said. After reiterating US recognition of Western Sahara as Moroccan territory, Trump expressed hope that cooperation across sectors would continue “for the next 250 years.”