“Project Legacy Morocco”: U.S. Soft Power and the Makhzen

 

Below is a dispatch from the MAP (Makhzen Arab Press) agency, republished—with a few modifications just to justify salaries—by all aligned Moroccan media, followed by our commentary.

Morocco, a Historic Ally and Reliable Strategic Partner of the United States (US Congressmen)

MAP, January 7, 2026

Washington – Several US congressmen and senators have praised the historic friendship and strategic partnership binding Morocco and the United States, which have made the Kingdom a reliable and indispensable ally of America for 250 years.

During a Gala evening organized Tuesday night at the US Congress, as part of the "Project Legacy Morocco" initiative, these American elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, were keen to pay tribute to the centuries-old relations between the United States and Morocco. These relations originate in the Kingdom's historic decision to become, in 1777, the first nation to recognize the independence of the young American Republic.

A powerful political act that now finds its full historical significance and diplomatic reach as the United States prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of their independence this year.

"Only 18 months after the Declaration of Independence, Morocco was the first country to recognize the newly independent American Republic, paving the way for the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1786, still in force today and which is the oldest uninterrupted treaty in US history," praised Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

"Tangier is still home to the first American diplomatic property abroad, a lasting symbol of this unbreakable bond," stressed the Iowa state representative in Congress, noting that Morocco remains today the only African country bound by a free trade agreement with the United States and designated as a major non-NATO ally.

For his part, Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop rejoiced that the relations between the United States and Morocco are "almost as old as the American nation itself," emphasizing that the centuries-old friendship between the two countries has evolved and strengthened over the centuries.

The Kingdom of Morocco today constitutes a reliable and essential partner for America in many respects, stated the Georgia state representative, expressing the hope to see the strategic partnership between Rabat and Washington continue to strengthen for the mutual benefit of both nations.

A similar sentiment came from Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for whom the Moroccan-American friendship has withstood the test of time and the geopolitical and ideological vicissitudes the world has experienced over the last two and a half centuries, in the sense that this centuries-old relationship continues to deepen over time.

"Today, as we face several global challenges, we do not do so as strangers, but as long-term partners. Our task now is not only to celebrate history, but to extend it, to ensure that the next 250 years are marked by peace, mutual respect and a shared commitment to human fulfillment," emphasized the Democratic representative from Illinois.

For his part, Republican Senator Tim Sheehy recalled that at a time when "the American nation sought to establish itself on the international stage, Morocco was one of the few countries to offer its support and recognize its legitimacy."

"Today, and in these times of uncertainty, whether it's the war on terror or new threats, it is more important than ever to invest in our alliances and stand firm in these relationships," argued the young senator from Montana.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine insisted, for his part, on the strategic importance of the Rabat-Washington axis, highlighting the interest for the United States, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of its independence this year, to also celebrate this special relationship with "our oldest diplomatic partner," the Kingdom of Morocco.

Mr. Kaine, also a former governor of Virginia, stated that the relationship with Morocco remains "very important to the United States and will only grow in importance."

For his part, Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta noted that after nearly 250 years, Morocco remains today one of America's oldest allies "with which we maintain high-quality relations at the diplomatic, military and economic levels."

A Celebratory Diplomatic Narrative That Obscures Contemporary Power Dynamics

SOLIDMAR, Jan. 9, 2026

The information above clearly fits into a logic of political and diplomatic communication, rather than a substantive analysis of the Moroccan-USAmerican relationship. The unanimous tone, the selection of speakers, and the emphasis on the "historical depth" of the partnership aim above all to consolidate a strategic narrative favorable to the Makhzen, in a regional and international context marked by growing tensions.

The recurring reference to the year 1777 and the friendship treaty of 1786, while historically founded, functions here as an argument of symbolic authority, intended to legitimize current political choices. However, invoking a 250-year-old legacy tends to naturalize an alliance that is in reality the product of shifting geopolitical interests, largely redefined since the end of the Cold War and, more recently, since the strategic realignments in the Middle East and North Africa.

A Friendship Presented as Timeless, Yet Asymmetrical

The discourse of the US parliamentarians highlights Morocco's reliability as an "indispensable strategic ally." This qualification, however, deserves to be questioned. It reveals above all the subordinate but useful position Morocco occupies in the US security architecture: military cooperation, counter-terrorism, migration control, regional stability, and, since 2020, alignment on certain US diplomatic priorities, notably regarding normalization with Israel.

The article makes no mention of the political trade-offs of this alliance, nor the potential areas of friction. Issues of human rights, press freedom, repression of social movements, or the Western Sahara conflict are completely absent from the discussion, as if the "historic friendship" dispensed with any critical evaluation of the current practices of the Moroccan state.

A Political Context Carefully Evacuated

The bipartisan staging—Democrats and Republicans speaking with one voice—creates the illusion of a moral and historical consensus. In reality, it mainly reflects the pragmatic continuity of US foreign policy, where considerations of stability and strategic interests prevail over proclaimed principles.

"Project Legacy Morocco," as presented, appears less as an exercise in shared memory than as a soft power tool, seeking to durably anchor the Moroccan-USAmerican relationship in a positive narrative, at the very moment when Washington is reconfiguring its alliances in the face of rising global rivalries (China, Russia) and regional uncertainties.

A Celebration Without Debate

Finally, the total absence of dissenting voices, independent analysts, or critical reminders transforms the dispatch into a piece of diplomatic promotion, closer to an official communiqué than to journalistic work. The celebration of the past here serves to defuse any questioning of the present and to project the alliance into the future without discussing its political, social, or ethical costs.

In summary, while the relationship between Morocco and the USA is undeniably old and structuring, the manner in which it is presented in this dispatch belongs to an idealized and instrumentalized reading of history. This masks the power dynamics, divergent interests, and unresolved issues that characterize any contemporary strategic alliance.