On this occasion, Mr. Bourita stressed that the friendship between Morocco and the United States is strong, and that the partnership between the two countries has never been as strong as today, “a partnership based on common commitments to peace, stability and prosperity, which His Majesty King Mohammed VI appreciates

“His Majesty King Mohammed VI values this partnership based on our shared commitments for peace, stability, and prosperity,” the minister stressed. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and US President Joe Biden, the partnership between Rabat and Washington has experienced sustained momentum in all areas in recent years

“Our discussions are always productive and constructive,” Mr Bourita said, adding that the partnership between the two countries contributes to “serve our people but also peace and stability worldwide

For his part, the Secretary of State, Mr. Antony J Blinken hailed Morocco’s leadership in regional peace and stability with the renewal of relations with Israel as well as in climate change and renewable energy, stressing the close bilateral cooperation between Washington and Rabat in various areas of common interest

Regarding military cooperation, the U.S. State Secretary pointed to the upcoming African Lion exercises that Morocco will be hosting

According to the State Department spokesperson, in a statement issued after the talks, the two officials “discussed efforts to advance regional peace and security, reflecting Morocco’s stabilizing role in addressing a range of challenges in the Middle East and Africa’’

The two senior officials also had the opportunity to discuss various regional and international issues, including the war in Ukraine, support for elections in Libya and the situation in the Sahel, added the State Department spokesperson

“They discussed common concerns about the continuing violence in Israel and the West Bank and ongoing efforts to defuse tensions,” the statement continued

“The Secretary noted the United States continues to view Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as serious, credible, and realistic,” said the US State Department spokesperson in a the statement following the talks

During their talks, the Secretary of State and Mr. Bourita voiced “their full support for United Nations Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura in advancing an enduring and dignified political solution” to this regional conflict, the statement added

Mr. Bourita’s visit to Washington, marked by meetings with senior American officials both at the State Department and at the White House, is an opportunity to discuss the means aimed at further consolidating the Moroccan-U.S. strategic partnership as well as international and regional issues of common interest, particularly in the Middle East and Africa

Mr. Bourita’s visit to Washington marks the momentum of regular exchanges between Morocco and the United States, which has intensified considerably over the past two years, with the visit to the Kingdom of many senior U.S. officials and the organization by Morocco of important joint events, including the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in May and July 2022 or the U.S.-Africa Business Summit that served as a prelude to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, hosted by President Joe Biden last December