Shortly after the organization of the government of the United States under the new Constitution, President George Washington wrote a letter of appreciation, to his "Great and Magnanimous Friend" Sultan Sidi Mohamed. Dated December 1, 1789, the letter informed the Sultan that the United States had adopted a new Constitution and apologized for the delay in communicating with Morocco.

Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to a friendly relationship with the U.S. government during the American Civil War, when the Minister of Foreign Affairs assured American Consul Jesse H. McMath that his country, "being a sincere friend of the American nation, would never air or give countenance to the insurgents."

During World War I Moroccan soldiers fought side-by-side with United States Marines against the Germans in 1917 and 1918 in critical battles at Chateau Thierry, Soissons and Mount Blanc. These victories marked the beginning of the end for the German military forces that had occupied much of France since 1914.

On November 8, 1942 in Operation Torch, a turning point in World War II, Allied forces invaded Algeria and Morocco, opening a second front against the Axis powers. Operation Torch proved to be the turning point in the Allies' war against Germany. After the loss of French Morocco, Germany remained on the defensive for the rest of the war. The capture of North Africa allowed the Allies to begin planning and preparations for the assault on Sicily, leading to the inevitable defeat of the Axis.

Within a few days, President Franklin Roosevelt sent His Majesty (HM) King Mohammed V a message stating, "I have been highly pleased to learn of the admirable spirit of cooperation that is animating you and your people in their relationships ... with the forces of my country." After recalling the traditional friendship between the U.S. and Morocco, the President concluded, "our victory over the Germans will, I know, inaugurate a period of peace and prosperity, during which the Moroccan and French people of North Africa will flourish and thrive in a manner which befits their glorious past." In reply, the Sultan noted that Morocco had been "duty-bound to defend itself, but once the cessation of hostilities had been ordered and the commanders of your troops affirmed that they did not come as conquerors but as liberators ... We declared to Major General George Patton that as long as our prestige, soul, religion and traditions were respected ... they could rest assured that they found in Morocco only friends and collaborators."

In January 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Roosevelt and French General Charles De Gaulle, Commander of the Free French forces in North Africa, met in the Casablanca suburb of Anfa for four days to map out their war strategy. The Anfa Conference was one of the most significant meetings of the Allied leadership during the War as it marked the moment when the Allies first agreed on the demand for the "unconditional surrender" of the Axis powers.

By recognizing the Moroccan sovereign as the host of the conference and a world leader of great importance, President Roosevelt significantly bolstered the independence aspirations of the Moroccan people.

President Roosevelt suggested that Moroccan engineers, educators and scientists come to the United States to receive their education, and offered to enlist the assistance of American companies to help Morocco with its economic development. As if all of this were not enough, the President is said to have told His Majesty that he would do everything in his power to support Morocco’s desire to gain independence from the French. As they finished their meal, the Sultan proclaimed “a new future for my country.”

Morocco attained its independence from France on March 2, 1956, with the signing of the Celle-Saint Cloud Agreements. President Eisenhower sent a message to His Majesty King Mohammed V saying "...My government renews its wishes for the peace and prosperity of Morocco, and has asked me to express its gratification that Morocco has freely chosen, as a sovereign nation, to continue in the path of its traditional friendships."

The history of official meetings between the leaders of the United States and Morocco has continued to the present day. In November 1957 King Mohammed V met with President Eisenhower during an official visit to the United States. The two leaders discussed ways to improve bilateral cooperation. Less than two years later, Vice-President Nixon traveled to Morocco to meet with the King.

Following the death of King Mohammed V in 1961, his successor, King Hassan II, visited the United States many times, meeting Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton during his long reign.

On July 25, 1999, King Mohammed VI met President Clinton at the funeral of his father, King Hassan II. King Mohammed VI made his first state visit to the United States as sovereign on June 20, 2000. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Morocco has become one of the United States’ closest allies in the war on international terrorism, and has proven to be indispensable in the ongoing fight against al-Qaeda.

The United States reciprocated this generosity after Casablanca was hit by a string of coordinated terrorist bombings on the night of May 16 by placing the full resources of the U.S. government at the Kingdom’s disposal. The ongoing negotiations for a U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement are just the latest manifestation of a long and proud history of friendship and shared values that are destined to continue for at least another 227 years.