Strengthening Franco-Moroccan Relations
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to visit Rabat on July 15 and 16, aiming to bolster the relationship between France and Morocco, with an eye toward a possible visit from King Mohammed VI to Paris. Accompanied by a dozen ministers, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, Lecornu will meet his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, during a "high-level meeting"—the first of its kind since 2019. This significant diplomatic engagement reflects the renewed vigor in Franco-Moroccan relations.
A New Era of Cooperation
The bilateral ties between France and Morocco have seen a remarkable improvement following President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara in the summer of 2024. This move, however, sparked anger in Algeria. Macron's subsequent state visit to Rabat in October of the same year marked a turning point, concluding three years of tensions characterized by suspicions of espionage and visa crises. That visit culminated in the signing of numerous contracts, emphasizing a commitment to deepening cooperation.
According to Hasni Abidi, director of the Center for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World (Cermam) in Geneva, the current state of relations is excellent, and it is now time to reap the benefits of this partnership. Morocco has become a priority in French diplomacy in the Maghreb region, with Paris no longer feeling the need to maintain a delicate balance with Algeria. Abidi highlights that Macron has shifted his focus away from the complexities of the Franco-Algerian relationship, which remains fragile.
Lecornu's visit will begin with a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday evening, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the royal mausoleum in honor of Kings Mohammed V and Hassan II. This will be followed by a bilateral meeting and discussions between delegations from both countries at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where several agreements are expected to be signed in the fields of economy, security, migration, and defense. Lecornu will also attend an official luncheon hosted by King Mohammed VI, alongside the Moroccan head of government.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez is set to discuss with his counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, the potential extradition to France of Franco-Moroccan Ismael Benahmed, who is suspected of murdering a man in Paris in 2019 and was recently arrested in Morocco. Additionally, Rabat appreciates French support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, which has facilitated the adoption of a new UN resolution in 2025 favoring Moroccan interests in the region. This territory, formerly a Spanish colony and recognized by the UN as a "non-self-governing territory," has been at the center of a conflict between Morocco and the Sahrawi independence movement supported by Algeria for nearly half a century.
The culmination of this diplomatic rapprochement could be marked by a visit from King Mohammed VI to France, potentially accompanied by the signing of a treaty establishing an "exceptional" Franco-Moroccan partnership. The foreign ministers of both nations hinted at this possibility in late May, although no specific date has been set. The last visit of the Moroccan monarch to France dates back to March 2000.
This trip marks Lecornu's first foreign visit since taking office amid a political crisis in the fall of 2025, a tenure that has thus far been characterized by a low profile. Prior to his visit to Morocco, he will stop in Qatar on Tuesday and Wednesday to pay respects to the late Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, before heading directly to Rabat.
As reported by tf1info.fr.
