Relationship dossier
Morocco
United States
Relationship assessment
Close partnership built on security cooperation, trade ties, and alignment on Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara
Morocco toward United States
+70Morocco has cooperated with the United States on security, including through regular joint military exercises and counterterrorism cooperation. It has also maintained a bilateral free-trade agreement with the United States since 2006.
United States toward Morocco
+75The United States designated Morocco a major non-NATO ally and has pursued security cooperation, including regular joint military exercises. In 2020, the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, aligning its position with Morocco’s claim.
Overall relationship
+75The relationship is a durable strategic partnership with substantive security and trade arrangements. The 2006 free-trade agreement and recurring military cooperation provide sustained practical links, while the 2020 United States recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara marked significant diplomatic alignment.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Morocco and the United States maintain a close, sustained partnership spanning security, trade, and diplomacy. Morocco is a major non-NATO ally, the countries conduct regular military cooperation, and their free-trade agreement has been in force since 2006. The United States’ 2020 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara further aligned its policy with a central Moroccan priority.
Key developments
The United States designated Morocco a major non-NATO ally.
The United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement entered into force.
The United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of current security cooperation are unclear.
- The longer-term implications of the United States’ Western Sahara policy for bilateral relations remain uncertain.