In a speech delivered on this occasion, Mr. Bourita noted that this event offers the opportunity to welcome the achievements that the two countries have been able to accomplish thanks to the richness of their strategic partnership encompassing the diplomatic, defense and economic aspects, and cultural and human exchanges, noting that this Roadmap is “timely and relevant in many respects”. The roadmap was signed at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defense Administration Mr.  Abdellatif Loudiyi, and by the US Secretary of Defense Mr. Mark Esper, whom Mr. Bourita had received, upon Very High Instructions from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him.

The Minister highlighted the instruments that allow this partnership to deploy its full potential, citing in particular the Strategic Dialogue, the Defense Advisory Council, the free trade agreement, the only one of its kind in the African continent, in addition to the two compacts of the Millennium Challenge. Mr. Bourita underlined that “the list of our common successes is long”, backed by an exceptional and diversified partnership based on the solid foundation of our common values and the interests that we have in common, all drawing its strength from “the convergence of our diplomatic positions”.

Mr.  Bourita affirmed that the Morocco-United States partnership is distinguished by its visionary aspect which defines “our common objectives in terms of security for the next ten years and supports Morocco in its ambitions and its current projects aiming at the modernization of the defense sector under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces".

 The Minister stressed that, in a context marked by the resurgence of threats and the emergence of new challenges, "this roadmap reflects the bold and proactive leadership of the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America as expressed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, and President Donald Trump”. At a time when the world is crumbling under the harmful effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and giving in to doubts and deep apprehensions about the future, “our roadmap clearly reaffirms that our alliance is strong and that it is there to stay (...), and shows that we are, today, in search of a more visionary approach, on the long term, with the cardinal objective of building peace and security starting with the basics, in the goal of ensuring lasting stability for our peoples”.

Mr. Esper's trip to Morocco follows an important sequence of visits by senior US officials including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senior Advisor to President Trump, Mr.  Jared Kushner, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Mr. David Pekoske, as well as MCC President Mr. Sean Cairncross.

The visit of Mr. Esper, Mr.  Bourita went on, offers the opportunity to take a look at the achievements of the Morocco-United States partnership and “to welcome what has been achieved”, noting that this centuries-old alliance draws its strength from a long history of mutual support and friendship that has never wavered.

He recalled in this regard the signing, in 1786, by Sultan Mohammed III, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson of the Treaty of Friendship and Peace, which laid the first framework for relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America. “Our historic relationship has been able to withstand the vicissitudes of time, he said, recalling that the two countries have always been on the same side during the great events that marked the 20th century, while operating a stronger transition to the 21st century.

The Morocco-United States partnership has been able to adapt to the even greater and more pernicious threats posed by terrorism, violent extremism, cyber crime, illicit trafficking of all kinds and separatism, he added.