US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita met in Washington on Tuesday, amid escalating Middle East tensions.

The two leaders discussed developments in North Africa and the Middle East.

Blinken told reporters that the US would continue to work on de-escalating the violence in the region.

Ties between Washington and Rabat have improved dramatically after the United States backed Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara in December 2020.

The Polisario Front of Western Sahara and Algeria condemned the recognition. In exchange, Morocco committed to normalize its relations with Israel.