2001 present The Embassy of Morocco, located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D C !

!ing Mohammed "# tal$s %ith &eorge W 'ush in the ()al (ffice, *pril 2+, 2002 #n the 21st century, both countries ha)e become close allies in the global %ar on terror Morocco %as among the first *rab and #slamic states to denounce the ,eptember 11, 2001 terrorist attac$s in the -nited ,tates and declare solidarity %ith the *merican people in fighting terrorism ./0 *fter the ,eptember 11 attac$s, Morocco has been instrumental in supporting the -nited ,tates 1or e2ample, !ing Mohammed "# presided o)er a mass ser)ice in support of the )ictims of the ,eptember 11 attac$s *dditionally, security cooperation bet%een the t%o countries is %ell de)eloped !ing Mohammed "# collaborates %ith - , intelligence and security officials in pro)iding intelligence and pre)enting terrorist attac$s in the ,traits of &ibraltar #n 3anuary 2004 Morocco %as designated a ma5or non67*T( ally as a re%ard for its collaboration .220 Morocco also plays a pi)otal role in the Trans6,ahara Counter Terrorism initiati)e to contain ,alafist groups in the ,aharan and in the ,ahel regions of West *frica .2+0 8i$e%ise, %hen Casablanca %as the )ictim of terrorist bombings on May 19, 200+, the - , go)ernment offered Morocco the full resources of its military and intelligence community .240 1urthermore, the C#* has utili:ed Morocco as a source for recruiting *rabic spea$ing spies .2;0 The !ingdom of Morocco submitted an official statement for a - , <ouse of =epresentati)es Congressional <earing in 3une 200/ chaired by the late Congressman Tom 8antos >D6C*? #t read in part, @Morocco is pleased to see that the -nited ,tates has o)er the last se)eral years )ery substantially increased its engagement in the Maghreb Morocco is a longtime partner of the -nited ,tates and our e2perience %ith your great nation o)er the last t%o centuries has persuaded us that there is much that %e can accomplish together The 1T* >1ree Trade *greement? bet%een Morocco and -,* is a great opportunity for -, companies to increase their mar$et shares AB.290 Economically, the -nited ,tates and Morocco ratified a free trade agreement in 200; %hich %ent into effect on 3anuary 1, 2009 and eliminates most tariffs on most products - , direct in)estment is about /C, and - , aid to Morocco is about 4C of total aid gi)en to Morocco .2+0 (n December 22, 200D the -nited ,tates go)ernment a%arded 8oc$heed Martin an EF41 D million contract to complete the production of 24 1619 aircraft for Morocco The contract added to an initial E2++ million a%arded to 8oc$heed Martin in 3une 200F to begin production of the aircraft .2/0 (fficial - , ,tate Department photo of *mbassador ,amuel !aplan %ho %as s%orn in on ,eptember 1F, 200D Morocco and the -nited ,tates coordinated efforts to minimi:e threats and e2pand cooperation on nuclear incident response in 3anuary 2010 The -nited ,tatesG 7ational 7uclear ,ecurity *dministration >77,*? partnered %ith MoroccoGs 7ational Center for 7uclear Energy, ,cience and Technologies for four days of training and demonstrations in =abat, Morocco The training sessions %ere held to address potential radiological emergencies and nuclear incidents 'ilateral cooperation in)ol)es technical e2changes, mutual training e)ents, 5ointly conducted e2ercises and emergency management assistance *ccording to 77,* *ssociate *dministrator for Emergency (perations, 3oseph !rol, @77,*Gs %or$ %ith Morocco .is0 part of our broader effort under the &lobal #nitiati)e to Combat 7uclear Terrorism to build and enhance the global capacity to pre)ent and respond to nuclear and radiological emergencies B.2F0 *ccording to the 77,*, @Enhanced international cooperation %ith Morocco is an important step in countering .the0 threat .of terrorists acHuiring a nuclear %eapon0 B.2F0 (n March 19, 2010, Moroccan Irincess 8alla <asna, the sister of the Moroccan !ing, met %ith ,ecretary of ,tate <illary Clinton They mainly discussed Earth Day celebration in Morocco %hich is part of the 7ational Charter for the En)ironment and ,ustainable De)elopment that !ing Mohammed "# called for in his last ,tate of the 7ation *ddress .2D0

*lso in March 2010, Morocco e2pelled - , citi:ens >as %ell as citi:ens from The 7etherlands, ,outh *frica, and 7e% Jealand? %ho %ere staffing an orphanage They %ere accused of spreading Christianity >%hich can be practiced but not e)angeli:ed in Morocco?, and ordered to lea)e immediately This resulted in the - , *mbassador to Morocco ,amuel !aplan declaring that MoroccoGs actions @)iolate fundamental rules of due process B <e further stated that the -nited ,tates %as in @distressB about the decision .+00