First nations to recognise U.S. independence revealed

After independence from Britain in 1776, the United States faced an urgent diplomatic challenge, which was gaining recognition from foreign powers.

Without formal recognition, the revolutionary government risked isolation, lacked access to trade and military support, and remained vulnerable to Britain’s efforts to reclaim its rebellious colonies.

Securing international legitimacy was thus a critical step in establishing the United States as a sovereign entity in the 18th-century global order.

Morocco: First to recognise the United States (1777)

The first country to formally recognise the United States was Morocco. On December 20, 1777, Sultan Mohammed III issued a decree that opened Moroccan ports to American ships, making the kingdom the earliest foreign power to extend official recognition. This act was later formalised through the Moroccan-American Treaty of Friendship, signed in 1786 and ratified in 1787. Remarkably, this treaty remains the oldest unbroken treaty in U.S. history.

France: First major power and strategic ally (1778)

France, a longtime rival of Britain, was the first major European power to recognise the U.S., offering not only legitimacy but also crucial military and financial support. On February 6, 1778, France signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance with the United States. These agreements pledged mutual defence and solidified a Franco-American alliance.

French involvement—through military leadership like General Rochambeau and naval support under Admiral de Grasse—proved decisive in pivotal battles such as the Siege of Yorktown (1781), effectively ending major combat operations in the Revolutionary War.

The Netherlands: Diplomatic recognition and the first U.S. embassy (1782)

The Dutch Republic formally recognised the United States on April 19, 1782, when it accepted John Adams as the American Minister Plenipotentiary. This recognition marked a diplomatic milestone as the U.S. established its first official embassy in The Hague, a move that underscored growing international acceptance.

The Netherlands also extended loans to the U.S. government, helping stabilise the fragile post-war American economy.

Spain: Cautious support turned official recognition (1783)

Spain, though initially cautious and reluctant to directly confront Britain, eventually extended recognition to the United States on February 20, 1783, just months before the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Spain’s involvement during the war, particularly through operations in the Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast, indirectly aided the American cause.

Recognition came after Spain’s strategic interests aligned with weakening British influence in North America.

Sweden: A neutral power with early commercial ties (1783)

Sweden, under King Gustav III, became the fifth country to formally recognise the United States. On April 3, 1783, the two nations signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, establishing peaceful and profitable relations. Sweden’s early recognition illustrated the United States' growing credibility among even neutral European powers.