Casablanca - A joint Morocco-United States exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of an American WWII landing in Morocco opened Wednesday in Casablanca, under the theme “Operation Torch: A Shared Story.”
Casablanca – A joint Morocco-United States exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of an American WWII landing in Morocco opened Wednesday in Casablanca, under the theme “Operation Torch: A Shared Story.”
Organized by the Directorate of Military History, the exhibition highlights the support Morocco provided to the Allies during the Second World War.
“This exhibition is an opportunity to highlight 240 years of privileged relations between Morocco and the US, whose origins go back to the time of Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah and the first US President George Washington at the end of the 18th century,” said Brigadier General Abdennasser Sinnate, head of the Military History Directorate at the FAR General Staff.
Sinnate also underlined the important role played by the city of Casablanca in building bridges between occupied Europe and the US.
“The organization of this second exhibition after that of 2006 is part of the military cooperation between Morocco and the United States in several areas,” Sinnate added.
“The military cooperation between the two countries continues to develop over the years,” said US General Dar Craig, who touched on the “exceptional” relations of friendship between his country and Morocco.
The general recalled that Operation Torch is the codename given to the Allied landings on 8 November 8, 1942 in Morocco, which was the first major strategic setback of Nazi Germany.
Stephanie Miley, the chargé d’affaires of the US embassy in Rabat Stephanie Miley. said “the exhibition celebrates 240 years of Moroccan-American friendship,” adding that Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States.
The opening ceremony was marked by the presence of several Moroccan and US military and civil figures. The exhibition, which displays historical documents, pictures, and uniforms, will run through December 7.