About the Consulate

U.S. - Morocco Relations

Morocco was the first country to seek diplomatic relations with the Government of the United States in 1777, and remains one of our oldest and closest allies in the region. Formal U.S. relations with Morocco date form 1787, when the two nations negotiated a Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history. As a testament to the special nature of the U.S.-Moroccan relationship, Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world, and the only building on foreign soil that is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the American Legation in Tangier (now a musuem). Overtime, U.S. consulate's have been located in several Moroccan cities. However, currently the U.S. Consulate General is located in Casablanca, Africa's third largest city and Morocco's economic, financial, industrial and demographic capital, as well as the country's most important seaport. It is also a significant airline crossroads from the US, Europe, the Middle East, and other African countries. Casablanca's broad boulevards, multi-story office buildings, bustling business districts, and relatively small Medina (the ancient, walled old city) contrast sharply with Morocco's traditonal imperial cities.

 

U.S.-Moroccan relations, characterized by mutual respect and friendship, have remained strong through cooperation and sustained high-level dialogue. King Hassan II visited the United States several times during his reign as King, meeting with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. King Mohammed VI has continued his father's tradition; he made his first trip to the U.S. as King on June 20, 2000. Prime Minister Jettou visited Washington in January 2004, and King Mohammed came to the United States in July 2004. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell traveled to Morocco in December 2004 to co-chair with Foreign Minister Benaissa the first meeting of the G8-BMENA "Forum for the Future." In August 2007, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes visited Morocco to meet with Moroccan officials, Moroccan non-governmental organizations, and students.

Political summits also take place in the Casablanca, continuing the tradition of King Mohammed V, who accompanied by King Hassan II, then Crown Prince, welcomed Churchill, Roosevelt and de Gaulle for the Anfa (Casablanca) Conference. Churchill stayed during the conference at Villa Mirador, now the U.S. Consul General's residence, and many bilateral meetings took place there.

The Consulate General, which opened in 1978, is near the city center at 8, Boulevard Moulay Youssef (Tel: 022-26-45-50, switchboard ext. 0). The building, surrounded by a small garden, was built in 1972. Mohammed V Airport is located 18 miles outside the city; there is a regular 30 minute train service from the airport to the Casa Port train station downtown, which is a 5-10 minute ride from the Consulate General. Frequent train service connects Casablanca and Rabat in 1 hour. The Public Affairs Office maintains a cultural center and library at Dar America, 10 Place Bel Air, about a 5 minute walk from the Consulate General (Tel: 022-22-14-60).

The Consul General oversees all section’s and agencies’ work in Casablanca, including consular, economic, political, public diplomacy, management, and security. Country-wide Consular services and visa issuances are conducted at the Consulate General. The Foreign Commercial Service (US Department of Commerce) and the regional Engineering Services Center, a Diplomatic Security function, are both located at the Consulate General. The country-wide Labor Officer is assigned to Casablanca because Morocco's trade unions are headquartered here. The Department of Homeland Security will be opening its regional office in Casablanca in late 2007. Office hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. A duty officer is on call evenings/weekends.