Morocco Strengthens Leadership in Africa Through Royal Initiatives, Puneet Talwar Says
Rabat - Thanks to the initiatives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is strengthening its leadership on the African continent, said former U.S. Ambassador to Rabat, Puneet Talwar.
“Morocco, here in Africa, is taking leadership through initiatives, such as the Royal Initiative to enable Atlantic Ocean access for the Sahel States, as well as the Atlantic African Gas Pipeline project,” Talwar emphasized during a panel organized as part of the 14th Annual International Conference “The Atlantic Dialogues” by the Policy Center for the New South.
The Kingdom, a true “gateway” to the continent, is seen in Africa as a model to follow, he noted, adding that this leadership has made Morocco a key strategic partner for the United States and a respected and influential actor at the continental level.
In his view, this status also gives the Kingdom a special ability to forge effective partnerships, notably with the United States. “By partnering together, we have been able to do wonderful things with Morocco,” the former diplomat observed.
“Morocco is America’s oldest friend and it’s a relationship that we, in the United States, cherish because it has brought so many benefits,” he stressed, noting that the Morocco–U.S. partnership is based on trust and consistency, as well as on enduring human ties.
The excellence of relations between Morocco and the United States was also recently displayed within the United Nations Security Council during the adoption of Resolution 2797 on the Moroccan Sahara, he continued, describing it as an illustration of the quality of coordination between the two countries on major issues of international peace and stability.
The former U.S. ambassador also praised the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to regional stability, recalling that through its African initiatives, Morocco works to promote a vision of co-development, South-South cooperation, and shared security.
He further expressed his personal attachment to Morocco, citing the richness of its culture and the depth of its human connections, and said he was convinced that the Morocco–U.S. partnership would continue to grow stronger. “I miss the history, the culture. So it’s wonderful to be back.”
Editorial team/le7tv
