Arab–American relations

Formal U.S. diplomatic relations with Morocco began in 1787 when the Confederation Congress ratified a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the two nations which had been signed earlier in 1786.^[7][8] Renegotiated in 1836, the treaty is still in force, constituting the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history, and Tangier is home to the oldest U.S. diplomatic property in the world. Now a museum, the Tangier American Legation Museum is also the only building outside of the U.S. that is now a National Historic Landmark.^[9] The Treaty was executed in Europe by American envoys John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, later receiving ratification from the Confederation Congress (operating under the earlier Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union government) in July 1787.^[10] As of 2020, the treaty has endured transatlantic pressures and tensions for over 235 years, establishing itself as the longest unbroken treaty alliance in the history of the United States.^[11] Morocco continues to stand as one of America's enduring and trusted allies in North Africa.

Among the correspondence exchanged between America and Morocco, one notable instance was a letter from the inaugural President George Washington to Muhammed Ibn Abdullah. Dated December 1, 1789, during the early months of his presidency, Washington addressed issues of authority and leadership in the United States, as well as the communication breakdown between Morocco and America. In the letter, Washington expressed regret for delays in communication, attributing them to governmental transitions and a desire to establish clear terms of engagement. He also commended Muhammed Ibn Abdullah's diplomatic efforts in protecting American ships from pirates, recognizing the vulnerability of the fledgling United States, which lacked naval power at the time. Morocco's willingness to engage in diplomatic negotiations marked a significant milestone, as it became the first Amazigh, Arab, African, or Muslim state to formalize a treaty with America, despite America's inability to safeguard its vessels in the Mediterranean.

Barbary Wars

The Barbary Wars were a series of conflicts fought between the United States and the Arab Barbary States of North Africa, namely the Ottoman provinces of

Faced with mounting losses and the violation of their sovereignty, the United States, under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, decided to confront the Barbary States militarily rather than continue paying tribute. This led to the First Barbary War (1801–1805) against Tripoli, followed by the Second Barbary War (1815) against Algiers.

The conflict was characterized by naval engagements, most notably the actions of the fledgling United States Navy's small fleet against the larger and more established Barbary corsair fleets. The American navy achieved notable successes, including the famous victories of the USS Enterprise and USS Constitution.

The Barbary Wars marked a significant moment in Arab–American relations. They demonstrated America's determination to protect its interests abroad and its unwillingness to submit to extortion. Additionally, the wars highlighted the complexities of diplomatic relations in the Mediterranean region, as the Barbary States were nominally under Ottoman control but operated independently.

In the aftermath of the Barbary Wars, the United States negotiated treaties with the Barbary States, securing safe passage for American ships in exchange for annual payments. These treaties helped to stabilize the region and allowed for increased American trade in the Mediterranean.

Post-World War II

Arab–American relations prior to World War II were limited. However, the first country to officially recognize the United States was Morocco. Moreover, in comparison to European powers such as Britain and France which had managed to colonise almost all of the Arab world after defeating the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the United States was ‘popular and respected throughout the region’.^[13] Indeed, ‘Americans were seen as good people, untainted by the selfishness and duplicity associated with the Europeans’.^[14] American missionaries had brought modern medicine and set up educational institutions all over the Arab World. In addition to this, the US had provided the Arab states with highly skilled petroleum engineers.^[15] Thus, there were some connections, which were made between the United States and the Arab states before the Second World War. All in all, the American-Arab relations have had their ups and downs, with each conflict changing the relations. At the moment, Arab–American relations are very strong economically, where the Arab world is the third largest exporter to the US, and the US is the first largest importer in the Arab world. Nevertheless, these strong economic relations fail to show in the political arena.

Arab–Israeli Conflict

The first real incident of deterioration between the Arab world and the US was when the US recognized Israel and supported it in the United Nations. Furthermore, "the first state to extend diplomatic recognition to Israel was the United States; the Soviet Union and several Western nations quickly followed suit. No Arab state, however, recognized Israel."^[16] The United States denounced the Arab intervention in the former Mandatory Palestine that took place shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.^[17] This issue has decreased the US's reputation and role within the Arab streets, hate towards the US increased, and the US was seen as the 'Friend of the Arabs Enemy,' Israel, thus becoming the Enemy.

Iran–Iraq War

The war between

The US played a significant role in the Gulf War. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, several other Arab countries decided to enter the war on the side of the US, leader of the anti-Iraqi coalition. This resulted in an image of the US as a liberator, particularly among the wealthy Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. The US currently maintains several military bases in the region.^{[citation needed]}

11th September

Iraq War

The

Anti-Arabism