New US ambassador begins work in Morocco ahead of opening of new consulates
The new US ambassador to Morocco, Richard Duke Buchan III, has begun his diplomatic duties in the North African country by presenting his credentials as ambassador to King Mohammed VI before Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.
Nasser Bourita welcomed Richard Duke Buchan III in Rabat and they held a pleasant and friendly meeting, very much in keeping with the excellent diplomatic ties between Morocco and the United States, under the guidance of King Mohammed VI and US President Donald Trump, who is currently serving his second term at the helm of the American giant.
US support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara
The start of Richard Duke Buchan III's diplomatic activity, who was previously ambassador to Spain and Andorra, coincides with a moment of close diplomatic relations between the two nations, boosted by the recognition in December 2020 by Donald Trump's first administration of Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the most serious, credible and realistic option for resolving the Sahrawi dispute.
This momentum served as international backing for Morocco to continue receiving support for its autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. This momentum has crystallised in the support of more than 100 countries for the North African country's initiative and in the endorsement of the United Nations (UN) Security Council at the end of last October, with all members voting in favour except for the abstentions of Russia and China as permanent members and with US support for the Moroccan option as the most solid basis for negotiations between the parties involved in the Sahrawi territorial issue.
The arrival of the new US ambassador in Morocco also coincides with an important moment ahead of the upcoming opening of two new consulates, one in Dakhla, precisely in Western Sahara, a territory considered by the North African country as part of its southern provinces, and another in Casablanca. These new diplomatic missions will undoubtedly serve to further connect the two nations and bring their peoples even closer together, as consulates handle a variety of important procedures such as those related to personal documentation, civil registration, citizen assistance, notarial procedures, visa issuance, electoral procedures, etc.
The new US Consulate in Dakhla will be an important point of reaffirmation of Moroccan sovereignty over what it considers its southern provinces, which would serve as a further step towards Morocco's long-awaited official incorporation of Western Sahara into its national territory.
Very close ties
The US Embassy in Morocco noted that the new ambassador began his duties by raising the US flag at his residence with the assistance of US Marines. Richard Duke Buchan III's challenge is to further strengthen the bond between the United States and Morocco, two countries that have been allies for more than 250 years, as it should be remembered that the Moroccan kingdom was the country that recognised the independence of the United States in 1777.
The presence of this new diplomatic representative is expected to give a strong boost to bilateral cooperation between Rabat and Washington, especially given the important strategic ties that exist between the two nations on a range of issues.
Morocco is a close ally of the United States on key issues such as regional and international security. The Moroccan kingdom's work in the fight against transnational terrorism and organised crime is highly commendable, and the United States takes this into account. In fact, the North African nation is a very important player in the African Lion military exercises, the most important exercises carried out on the African continent, organised by AFRICOM, the United States military command in Africa.
Morocco also plays a very important role in trade and economic matters, as it is a gateway to the African market due to its location on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts and because it promotes access for various African countries to its Atlantic coastline in order to boost economic and trade activities with America.
Politically, the link is very close, especially after the Donald Trump administration's explicit support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara as the most realistic option for resolving the Sahrawi dispute. This support was linked to Morocco's determination to enter into the famous Abraham Accords, through which various Arab countries established diplomatic relations with Israel in September 2020 to promote peace, security and stability in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) and to develop the region to its fullest potential in various areas, such as economics, trade and technology.