The US State Department hinted to enhance military cooperation with Morocco and the acquisition of F-35 ghost fighters
The US State Department confirms the depth of historical relations with Morocco since 1777, and indicates the strengthening of military and economic cooperation, including negotiations for the acquisition of F-35 fighters.
Arab Defense website – August 25, 2025: The US State Department, through its media office, yesterday published an important statement that highlights the depth of the historical relationship between Morocco and the United States of America. The statement stressed that the Kingdom of Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, which established the basis for their historical friendship, which is still developing today through strong relations in various fields.
The statement stated that the relations between the two countries officially arose since 1777, and have been documented through the peace treaty and friendship signed in 1786, which is the longest official bilateral relationship in the history of the United States. The statement also indicated that the American Commission in Tangier was a gift from Morocco, a symbol of this strong relationship, in addition to trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, as the United States is among the five largest investors in Morocco, with a bilateral trade size of $ 7 billion in 2024, with a free exchange agreement between them.
The statement also dealt with military and security cooperation, including joint exercises, combating terrorism, and recognizing Morocco’s role in promoting regional stability, as well as referring to the Abrahamic agreements signed in 2020.
The statement also pointed to a photo published by the American Ministry’s media communication office showing the F-22 Raptor fighter, although the intended message was related to F-35 fighters (F-35), which is considered an advanced step towards strengthening the capabilities of the Moroccan Royal Air Force, including deterrence capabilities and accurate attack. It is noteworthy that the F-22 monopolized the American army and cannot be exported, while the F-35 is the fighter that Morocco may tend to acquire in the near future.
This statement comes at a time that raises speculation about strengthening bilateral relations between Morocco and the United States of America, and this may include US President Donald Trump’s visit to Morocco. This step also comes in the context of continuous negotiations to acquire Morocco Fifth generation F-35 fighters, adding a large offensive and defensive force to Moroccan air capabilities, especially when they are combined with F-16 Block 72 VIPER fighters with Fifth Generation technologies.
Military analysts pointed out that Morocco’s acquisition of these fighters will enhance its capabilities to carry out accurate strikes and overcome the air defenses of the opponents, as the effectiveness of these fighters was observed during the recent Israeli operations against Iran, as they managed to carry out accurate offensive tasks without any losses.
The coming days are expected to reveal more details about possible bilateral agreements, especially in the field of armaments and economics, which may constitute a new and important stage in the history of Moroccan -American relations.
The US State Department’s article appeared to enhance military cooperation with Morocco and the acquisition of F-35 ghost fighters first on the Arab defense site.
