Morocco has received a new American diplomatic representative as Benjamin Ziff assumes the role of chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat. Ziff will temporarily lead the mission, filling the gap before the arrival of the newly appointed ambassador, Richard Duke Buchan III.
The U.S. Embassy announced Ziff’s appointment on social media, inviting the public to engage with the diplomat: “Meet the new Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Morocco, Benjamin Ziff.
Help us welcome him by suggesting the places in Morocco he should visit first!” a post on the embassy’s Facebook page stated, accompanied by a photograph of Ziff.
Ziff, who speaks Spanish, Hebrew, and Italian, officially arrived in Morocco on August 28, 2025. According to the embassy’s X account, he “assumed the role of Chargé d’Affaires to the U.S. Mission in Morocco,” succeeding Aimee Cutrona, who previously led the mission.
The temporary appointment comes as Richard Duke Buchan III, nominated by former President Donald Trump in March 2025, awaits the completion of formal diplomatic procedures.
Buchan’s nomination was approved by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 29, but he has yet to present his credentials in Rabat. Once he arrives, he will meet with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and subsequently receive a royal audience to officially take office.
Observers note that Ziff’s multilingual abilities and extensive diplomatic experience position him to maintain continuity in bilateral relations during the interim period. The U.S. Embassy’s engagement with the public also reflects a more open approach to diplomacy, encouraging cultural exchange and dialogue with Moroccan citizens.
This transition highlights ongoing U.S.-Morocco cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres.
While Ziff serves as chargé d’affaires, the embassy continues to manage diplomatic priorities, ensuring that U.S. interests and collaborative projects in Morocco remain uninterrupted until Ambassador Buchan formally assumes his post.
The appointment reinforces the strong and longstanding ties between the two countries, with Morocco hosting one of the oldest American diplomatic missions in Africa, reflecting decades of shared strategic, economic, and cultural interests.
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