French diplomacy is shifting its focus toward Morocco, marking a clear departure from its traditional balancing act in the Maghreb. This strategic realignment comes ahead of a two-day official visit by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Rabat, his first international trip since taking office.
Lecornu, leading a delegation of top officials including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, will hold bilateral talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch. The visit concludes with an official luncheon and a joint press conference scheduled for late morning.
The itinerary also includes a high-level meeting between French and Moroccan delegations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Mohammed V Mausoleum. In a recent statement, Lecornu praised the robust police and judicial cooperation between the two nations, emphasizing the strength of bilateral ties.
During a Senate session, he highlighted the presence of a Moroccan parliamentary delegation, invited by Senator Christian Cambon, chair of the France-Morocco Friendship Group. This delegation, led by Mohamed Zidouh, president of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group, engaged with French MEPs including François-Xavier Bellamy (Vice-President of the European People’s Party Group), Pierre Jouvet (Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Group), and Fabienne Keller, Quaestor of the European Parliament.
Strengthening Euro-Moroccan relations
François-Xavier Bellamy underscored the deep historical and cooperative ties between Morocco and France, hailing the Kingdom as a model of progress and openness. He stressed the comprehensive development initiatives underway in Morocco and urged the European Union to acknowledge the country’s commitment to its international obligations.
Addressing territorial integrity, he reiterated France’s stance recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, aligning with international law. Meanwhile, Pierre Jouvet described Morocco as an essential geopolitical ally for both France and Europe, calling for deeper collaboration to safeguard shared achievements.
