Moroccans recognized the Government of the United States in 1777. Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date from 1787, when the two nations negotiated a Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. As testament to the special nature of the U.S.-Moroccan relationship, Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world, and the only building on foreign soil that is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the American Legation in Tangier (now a museum).

U.S.-Moroccan relations are characterized by mutual respect and friendship. They have remained strong through cooperation and bilateral contacts and visits, including King Mohammed's visits to the United States in 2000 and 2002.

The shared interests of the United States and Morocco include the economic prosperity of both countries, countering terrorism and extremism, the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East region, the maintenance of regional security and cooperation, and sustainable development and protection of the environment. U.S. objectives with Morocco include maintaining cordial and cooperative relations; supporting Moroccan efforts to democratize; improving human rights;, developing an increasingly effective administration; and aiding Morocco's domestic, social, and economic progress.

In addition to U.S. Navy port visits, Morocco considers on a case-by-case basis requests from American forces to enter Moroccan air space. Morocco has allowed NASA the use of the airfield at Ben Guerir as an emergency landing site for U.S. space shuttles. The $225-million International Board of Broadcaster's (IBB) transmitter in Morocco is one of the world's largest IBB transmitters. The IBB operates the Radio Sawa FM Arabic news music channel in Rabat and Casablanca and will broadcast in seven major radio markets in Morocco by 2004.

Total U.S. economic assistance to Morocco during 2000-02 was $42.1 million. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has had an active and effective program in Morocco since 1953. The amount of USAID assistance to Morocco in FY 2002 was $14.5 million. USAID's 5-year multi-sectoral strategy consisted of two strategic objectives in economic growth and water resources management and three special objectives in population, health and nutrition, basic education for girls, and promoting civil society development and local governance. USAID is developing a new program strategy to begin in 2004, which will address Morocco's challenges in economic liberalization and growth, education, democratization, and other issues.

The Peace Corps has been active in Morocco for about 40 years, with the first group of volunteers arriving in the country in 1963. More than 130 Morocco Peace Corps volunteers usually are working in four sector areas: health, youth development, small business, and the environment.

The U.S. Embassy in Morocco is located at 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat tel. 212 (37) 76-22-65.