US Congress invited to mark 250 years of Morocco-US diplomatic relations

Two American congressmen, Democrat Brad Schneider and Republican Joe Wilson, co-chairs of the Congressional Morocco Caucus, introduced a resolution on Tuesday, March 25, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Morocco’s recognition of U.S. independence in 2027. Morocco, under Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah (Mohammed III), became the first country to recognize the United States in December 1777.

Brad Schneider, who also co-chairs the bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus, highlighted the significance of this milestone. «As we approach the 250th anniversary of Morocco being the first nation to formally recognize the United States, this resolution honors the deep historical ties and ongoing partnership between our two nations», he stated on his website.

«Morocco’s continued leadership within the Abraham Accords framework further underscores its critical role in fostering regional stability and cooperation», he added, justifying the initiative.

Business and Historical Support

The resolution also has the backing of businessman Joe Ouaknine, co-chair of the Heritage Morocco Project Initiative Committee. «As a proud Jewish American citizen born in Morocco, I am grateful to the United States that gave me a chance and I took it. My profound love for these two countries makes it a delight to play a role in acknowledging Morocco as the first country to recognize the United States of America», he said on Schneider’s website.

To persuade other members of the House of Representatives to adopt the resolution, Schneider and Wilson highlighted key moments in U.S.-Morocco relations. They recalled that in 1780, the Continental Congress sent its first diplomatic correspondence to the Kingdom of Morocco, expressing a desire for peace and friendship.

They also emphasized the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed on July 18, 1787, and ratified by the United States, which formally established diplomatic and commercial ties between the two nations. The resolution concludes by recalling the year 1821, when Alaouite Sultan Moulay Slimane gifted the American Legation in Tangier to the United States—the first American diplomatic property abroad and a lasting symbol of U.S.-Morocco friendship.