How did the United States-Morocco alliance shape the Ceuta migration crisis?

Over 70,000 individuals crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a single surge, leaving at least 140 dead in their wake. This unprecedented migration wave has intensified scrutiny on the decades-long strategic partnership between Washington and Rabat, a bond that has weathered global shifts and regional conflicts.

The Moroccan government renamed a 1,000-kilometer highway in the Western Sahara after former US President Donald Trump, citing gratitude for his administration’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed territory. This gesture followed shortly after the Ceuta border crisis, underscoring the depth of the alliance.

Washington’s response to the crisis further highlighted this close relationship. Trump labeled the events a “catastrophe” comparable to a “country invasion,” while the US State Department criticized Spain’s immigration policies and the White House condemned “far-left globalist policies.”

Crucially, the United States did not question Morocco’s role in the mass movement toward Ceuta, despite the humanitarian toll. This stance raised eyebrows in Madrid, a NATO ally that hosts American military forces at bases in Rota and Morón.

Early foundations of a lasting partnership

The roots of US-Morocco relations trace back to 1776, when Morocco became the first nation to recognize the newly independent United States. Just a year and a half after America’s declaration of independence, Sultan Mohammed III granted American ships free access to Moroccan ports, a move Rabat later hailed as the first international acknowledgment of the young republic.

Official records from the US State Department, however, date this recognition to June 23, 1786, when the two nations signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in Marrakech. For the fledgling American republic, this accord was far more than a diplomatic formality. With the British Royal Navy no longer protecting its vessels, American ships were vulnerable to capture by corsairs from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli. The treaty ensured safe passage, access to Moroccan ports, and expanded trade opportunities, bolstering America’s global standing.

“Morocco’s strategic location at the Mediterranean’s entrance and its connections across Europe, Africa, and the Islamic world positioned it as a gateway for American commercial expansion,” noted Timothy W. Kneeland, a professor of history and political science at Nazareth University in New York.

The treaty, renegotiated in 1836, remains in force today. “As Moroccans often point out, the 1786 treaty is America’s oldest unbroken agreement,” emphasized Sarah Yerkes, a Middle East scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Evolving security ties and regional influence

Security cooperation between the two nations predates Morocco’s independence. In 1950, even as the country remained under French protectorate rule, the US and France collaborated to develop military air bases in Morocco.

By November 1975, Morocco’s King Hassan II orchestrated the Green March, mobilizing 350,000 civilians to pressure Spain into relinquishing control of Western Sahara. Spain eventually transferred administrative authority to Morocco and Mauritania. While Washington publicly advocated for neutrality and a negotiated solution, declassified diplomatic records reveal a far more sympathetic stance toward Rabat.

Henry Kissinger, then US Secretary of State, reportedly told Hassan II in 1974 that he would have acted similarly in his position. By January 1976, he acknowledged that the US had placed “no significant obstacles” in Morocco’s path regarding the Western Sahara.

The bilateral security relationship deepened further after the September 11, 2001 attacks. “Geopolitically, Morocco has been a steadfast US ally in the fight against international terrorism,” Kneeland explained.

In 2004, the George W. Bush administration designated Morocco as a “Major Non-NATO Ally,” unlocking access to advanced weaponry and military cooperation. Morocco also hosts African Lion, the US Africa Command’s largest annual military exercise. The two nations jointly train special forces and co-chair the Africa group of the global coalition against ISIS, coordinating counterterrorism efforts across the continent.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US supplied 60% of Morocco’s large-scale weapons imports between 2021 and 2025, with Israel and France trailing at 24% and 10%, respectively.

Trade, diplomacy, and the Western Sahara question

The 2006 US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement was the first of its kind between the US and an African nation, dismantling trade barriers. By 2025, bilateral trade had surged to $7.4 billion, nearly eight times the $927 million recorded in 2005. While modest for the US economy—where Morocco ranks as the 46th largest export market—the agreement has strengthened economic ties.

Diplomatically, Morocco achieved a major victory in 2020 when the Trump administration recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara as part of a normalization deal with Israel. Washington maintains this position today, endorsing Rabat’s autonomy proposal as the foundation for resolving the conflict. “Morocco stands out as the most successful signatory of the Abraham Accords, and its normalization with Israel has endured despite the Gaza war,” Yerkes observed.

A triangle of alliances under strain

The Ceuta crisis has exposed tensions within the US-Morocco-Spain triangle. Spain, a key NATO ally of the US, relies on Morocco for managing its North African borders. Yet both alliances are now facing unprecedented strain.

The Spanish government attributed the sudden influx of migrants to human trafficking networks and social media, even acknowledging Moroccan cooperation. However, Spanish experts, politicians, and media outlets have accused Morocco of orchestrating or at least facilitating the event.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, sharply criticized Spain for its stance on NATO military spending limits and its refusal to allow US operations from bases in Rota and Morón to target Iran. These disagreements came to a head during the Ceuta crisis.

While Washington did not explicitly endorse Morocco’s version of events, it also refrained from demanding explanations from Rabat or echoing accusations of deliberate border laxity. Instead, Trump framed the crisis as a consequence of Spain’s immigration policies, directly challenging Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.

“I don’t believe Washington sees the Ceuta events as a Moroccan initiative. The White House has been far more critical of Spain, blaming its border mismanagement for the crisis,” Yerkes interpreted.

This response underscores the resilience of the US-Morocco alliance, contrasting with the strains in US-Spain relations within NATO. Experts suggest Morocco could become an even more valuable partner for the US in security and logistics, especially given Spain’s refusal to allow attacks on Iran from its territory or airspace.

In a message to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of Throne Day—marking the monarch’s 1999 accession—Trump reaffirmed the alliance’s direction. “This year, we celebrate 250 years of American history and enduring friendship with Morocco, a bond built on mutual trust and respect,” he stated. After reiterating US recognition of Western Sahara as Moroccan territory, he expressed hope that cooperation would continue “for the next 250 years.”