Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation during the Revolutionary War.
On December 20, 1777, Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah directed Moroccan officials to allow American ships to enter Moroccan ports under favorable conditions. This action made Morocco the first country to recognize the United States, even though the war was still underway.
The decision opened an important early connection between the new American republic and North Africa. The two countries later formalized their relationship through the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship, signed in 1786 and ratified by the Confederation Congress in 1787.
France is a frequent answer because it entered a formal alliance with the United States in 1778 and provided decisive military support. However, Morocco’s earlier recognition came before that alliance. Recognition, military alliance, and formal treaty relations were separate diplomatic steps.