U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Morocco has been an "important force for stability, peace, progress and moderation" in the Middle East during a meeting with the North African country's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Washington.  Blinken mentioned upcoming African Lion exercises that Morocco will be hosting on a yet to be announced date.  Bourita called the relationship between the U.S. and Morocco "solid and historic" and said he was "looking forward for the same spirit to serve our people, but also peace and stability worldwide."