Morocco: backstage at the head-to-head between Obama and Mohammed VI

Mohammed VI at the White House , November 22 ? An event in itself . But that was mainly to strengthen the bilateral political dialogue. Washington had in mind security issues , Rabat , Western Sahara .

Mohammed VI 's visit to Barack Obama, November 22 , she will resume a political dialogue? It would then take the example of economic cooperation. Bound by a free trade agreement since 2006 , the two countries opened in September 2012, a dialogue which will continue in early 2014 . A large business delegation preceded the king in the United States : it had ministers, whose very business-friendly Moulay Hafid Elalamy , business leaders (including Terrab Mostafa , CEO of OCP and Miriem Bensalah - Chaqroun , boss of bosses ), all responsible for promoting the destination Morocco , which is positioned as a continental hub for business. "There is no better entry door in Africa ," explained Moulay Hafid Elalamy , the Minister of Industry and Trade, in Forbes magazine. A conference on business development is scheduled for February 2014 in Morocco.

A conference on interfaith dialogue

Exchanges between the two leaders in the Oval Office , Nov. 22 , also focused on more political issues, including security in the Sahel-Saharan region and what the White House euphemistically called the " violent extremism ." He also discussed the organization by Morocco in 2014 , a conference on interfaith dialogue. Mohammed VI 's visit comes after tense weeks between Rabat and Algiers about the question of Western Sahara. In April , Susan Rice, then U.S. ambassador to the UN , supported the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ( MINURSO ) for respect of human rights. While serving on the Security Council, Morocco was taken aback by this proposal deemed hostile to its interests. After suspending joint military maneuvers, the kingdom had obtained a less restrictive resolution.

For Morocco, the Sahara issue is a national priority , even at the cost of a cold war with Algeria.

Since then, Susan Rice was appointed advisor to the national security. She has more than ever the ear of Barack Obama, even if it often alone decides - on Syria for example. For Morocco, the Sahara issue is a national priority , even at the cost of a cold war with Algeria. The United States put the fight against terrorism as their top objectives in the region and maintain good relations with both Rabat with Algiers. Morocco, it seeks to regain ground lost since the departure of Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State , who described the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara proposal " serious , realistic and credible." A position that Morocco wants to perpetuate . Reminding the need that its was the first country to recognize the United States of America from overseas partners. That was in 1777.