Morocco and the United States have long-standing relationships, initiated in 1786 by the ratification by the US Congress of the treaty of peace and friendship between the two countries. This historical legitimacy has gained momentum with the launch of the strategic dialogue between Morocco and the United States on October 13, 2012. Focused on geopolitics and interests of both parties, a common agenda has been traced to a new dynamic to bilateral partnership.
The launch of the strategic dialogue in October 2012 was a major turning point in relations between Morocco and the United States. The two countries have, in effect, sealed a strategic partnership covering several areas of cooperation. According to a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this new cooperation framework is a strong signal to the entire region on Washington's willingness to establish partnerships with countries able to share the same vision and values for building a better future for the MENA region. It is also to develop an innovative framework for cooperation built on common interests and able to face the challenges the entire area is facing. The Moroccan-American partnership covers four areas: political dialogue, economic, commercial and financial aspects, cultural cooperation, science and technology and cooperation in the security sphere.
Politically, the two parties agree to support and encourage consultations and meetings between the two countries to harmonize and coordinate the positions on issues of common interest. Political dialogue is, in fact, to strengthen cooperation within the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other international organizations to support the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts. Both parties have agreed to "consult and work together to contribute to the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts in some parts of the African continent, to work actively to achieve a comprehensive, just and sustainable in the Middle East, based on the relevant UN resolutions, and to contribute actively to the disarmament process at the international and regional levels, including through the strengthening of non-proliferation regimes of weapons of mass destruction and related technologies. "
The economic, commercial and financial level, the two countries aim to diversify the bilateral partnership. Achieve this objective is through the implementation of joint projects of common interest and the promotion of trade by facilitating the movement of people and goods. The achievement of expected economic purposes depends on the promotion of links between banking networks, chambers of commerce and industry and professional associations and unions in both countries. It must be said that since the establishment of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, efforts have been made in this area, but they still fall short of aspirations. The FTA has certainly paved the way for new opportunities for trade and investment. But it has yet to implement a number of measures to balance the economic relations between the two parties and overcome the technical problems that hamper the flow of trade.
It should be recalled in this context that in the Moroccan-American conference on business development, held on December 4, 2012 in Washington, the two countries have shown their willingness to develop bilateral trade, especially in the areas of agriculture, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and infrastructure.
A trade facilitation agreement was initialed on this occasion providing new standards of transparency and predictability in customs matters to simplify export procedures of the products of small and large companies to the markets of both countries. Other working mechanisms have been launched recently to promote the dynamics of regional economic integration, such as NAPEO (the North African Partnership for Economic Opportunities) and the "Atlantic Bridge".
Regarding cultural cooperation, scientific and technical, it relates to education, vocational training, culture, science and technology innovation. It tends to encourage meetings and bilateral contacts between universities, academies of sciences, research institutions, libraries, and organizations of the two countries operating in the fields of youth and sports, media, arts and archives. In terms of cooperation in the security sphere, it has consolidated since the granting to Morocco's strategic ally status not a member of NATO. It covers various areas: the fight against terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and drug trafficking. This cooperation also extends to regional security partnership (Sahara and Sahel and Horn of Africa) and continental, including through crisis management and peace building. Added to this is the participation of the Kingdom two initiatives by Africom: "Partnership against Terrorism" (TSCTP) and "Operation Enduring Freedom in the Trans Sahara" (OEF-TS). Joint military exercises are organized annually, including the operation "African Lion"
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