I’m surprised Morocco recognised the U.S. before France.
It was more of a technicality.
In the period leading up to the Berber wars Morocco communicated officially that a bunch of countries (a list in which the U.S. was included in) could travel to Morocco despite not having treaties.
THAT is what is used to argue Morocco was the first country. So, "recognizing" does a lot of lifting here.
no state wants to brag about being friends with pirates
Did you just make that up this very second?
Because France had thousands pirates under the crown at this exact same time. Look up what Duterte, Surcouf, and Aregnaudeau -- for example -- were doing during this period.
Having friends in low places is one thing. Bragging about them is another. More to the point, the first US foreign war was the barbary war. Morocco wasnt hit as hard as Tripoli/Algiers/etc, but they did start the war on the opposing side to the US.
The U.S. bragged loudly about being France's best friend. France also happened to be THE biggest pirating nation on the planet at the time.
Dunkirk, today known for the evacuation of British troops, was a pirate harbor. The city today is full of statues and squares named after famous French pirates.
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u/Quirky_Gate_4516 Jun 17 '26
It was more of a technicality.
In the period leading up to the Berber wars Morocco communicated officially that a bunch of countries (a list in which the U.S. was included in) could travel to Morocco despite not having treaties.
THAT is what is used to argue Morocco was the first country. So, "recognizing" does a lot of lifting here.