In the early days of the American Republic, long before it had firmly established itself on the world stage, one of the first nations to extend a diplomatic hand came not from Europe, but from North Africa.

In 1777, the Sultanate of Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah, became the first country to officially recognize the United States of America as an independent nation. At a time when most global powers were still hesitant to acknowledge the breakaway colonies, the Sultan saw an opportunity to forge new alliances and promote maritime trade.

The Moroccan ruler included American ships in a list of nations granted safe passage through Moroccan waters—essentially a public declaration of recognition. In doing so, he opened the door to peaceful maritime commerce and laid the groundwork for what would become America’s longest unbroken treaty of friendship, formalized in the Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship (1786).

Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah even corresponded directly with George Washington, expressing admiration for the American struggle for independence and affirming Morocco’s desire for peaceful and prosperous relations. Washington, in turn, warmly acknowledged the Sultan’s gesture, calling Morocco “one of the first among the powers in Europe or Africa” to recognize the United States.

This early diplomatic relationship with Morocco wasn’t an isolated case. A few decades later, in 1805, President Thomas Jefferson hosted Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy from Tunis, at the White House for a formal dinner. It was a significant moment: an American president dining with a Muslim diplomat in the nation’s capital, signaling respect, diplomacy, and a recognition of cultural and political diversity.

The visit of Mellimelli was notable not just for its symbolic value but also for the diplomatic challenges of the time. The United States was navigating complex relationships with the Barbary States, a group of North African nations that played a central role in Mediterranean trade—and piracy. Yet, even amid conflict, moments like Mellimelli’s dinner reflect the efforts made to maintain dialogue and understanding.

Today, these episodes are often overlooked in the broader sweep of American diplomatic history. But they remain powerful reminders that the Muslim world was not only aware of America’s rise—but actively engaged with it from the very beginning.

From the ports of Tangier to the halls of the White House, the story of U.S.–North African relations began with mutual respect, curiosity, and diplomacy—long before the modern alliances and tensions of today.