Morocco and France have launched a new chapter in their exceptional partnership, as highlighted by the 15th High-Level Morocco-France Meeting. This gathering marks a decisive moment in the trajectory of bilateral relations, with both nations accelerating their commitments to a strengthened strategic alliance.

Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch emphasized that “this meeting comes at a pivotal juncture in the journey undertaken by both countries since October 2024, offering an opportunity to assess progress and accelerate the implementation of commitments made under the enhanced exceptional partnership.”

The discussions reflect the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has championed a cooperative framework focused on ambition, balance, and shared opportunities for both partners.

Akhannouch praised French President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to infusing fresh dynamism into Morocco-France relations, solidifying an exceptional partnership between the two nations.

Political and strategic alignment

In a world grappling with multiplying crises and uncertainties, Morocco and France share not only stability and cooperation goals but have also deepened their political and strategic dialogue on key regional and international issues. This alignment is rooted in mutual trust, shared responsibility, and respect.

“This convergence resonates strongly across the Mediterranean, African, and Atlantic regions, particularly following France’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the Moroccan nature of the Sahara, which has fostered a climate of enhanced confidence,” Akhannouch noted.

The two nations have accelerated the implementation of structural projects in industry, decarbonization, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, innovation, and productive investment since Macron’s last state visit.

The Moroccan Prime Minister underscored the strength and quality of cooperation between Morocco and France, driven by the emergence of new value chains where banking services have become a cornerstone of the bilateral economic relationship.

The leaders also emphasized their joint commitment to promoting technological transformations, with a focus on artificial intelligence, digitalization, applied research, and other strategic sectors designed to enhance the competitiveness of both economies.

Human dimension: the foundation of partnership

The exceptional and strengthened partnership extends beyond strategic and economic domains to embrace the human ties between the two societies. This human dimension, encompassing academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and diaspora communities, plays a vital role in bringing the two peoples closer together and strengthening their cultural exchanges, Akhannouch explained.

On the human capital front, he noted that both countries are advancing efforts in higher education, scientific research, vocational training, innovation, and talent mobility.

Cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue, the promotion of shared heritage, and the strengthening of human exchanges are also central to the relationship, forming the living and enduring foundation of the partnership.

The two countries have reaffirmed their ambition to propel their bilateral relations into the future, inaugurating a new phase in their strategic partnership. This dynamic is inspired by the vision of King Mohammed VI and President Macron’s commitment to consolidating cooperation suited to 21st-century challenges.

The governments expressed their determination to translate political commitments into concrete results, building a more effective, innovative partnership capable of addressing common challenges in economic, technological, geopolitical, and human domains.

A new scale in bilateral relations

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the Morocco-France High-Level Meeting as a turning point in bilateral relations, marking the implementation of commitments made during Macron’s historic state visit to Rabat in October 2024.

The primary goal, he said, was to elevate the partnership between Morocco and France by creating privileged inter-ministerial, political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural links to establish a specific governance structure between the two nations.

“France and Morocco aim to consolidate a strategic partnership that, beyond strengthening their privileged relationship with the European Union, will serve as a gateway to renewed cooperation based on converging interests and oriented toward the development and stability of the African continent,” Lecornu explained, reaffirming France’s support for the autonomy plan to bring a definitive solution to the Sahara conflict.

The two governments stressed that security will remain a pillar of their strategic partnership, alongside major demographic and environmental challenges facing the continent.

They agreed to enhance coordination in combating terrorism and transnational threats, convinced that regional stability requires increasingly close diplomatic and security action.

Both countries have agreed on the need to take their bilateral relations to the next level, paving the way for a new dynamic aimed at projecting Moroccan-French cooperation beyond the bilateral framework and making it an instrument for the development, stability, and integration of the African continent.

Lecornu concluded by highlighting that this High-Level Meeting marks a new stage in deepening the Moroccan-French partnership. This momentum, he added, will help prepare for the future state visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to France, a key moment for relations between Rabat and Paris that could lead to the signing of an exceptional friendship treaty to consolidate an unprecedented strategic partnership.

Agreements signed

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot signed a letter of intent on cooperation in feminist foreign policy, aiming to strengthen feminist diplomacy at both the ministerial and international levels.

Moroccan Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah and her French counterpart Roland Lescure signed an agreement confirming financing for the high-speed rail program between Kenitra and Marrakech.

A joint declaration was also signed to complement the agreement on water partnership, signed by Fettah, Roland Barrot, and Catherine Bonnaud, Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) in Morocco. This agreement details the commitments made in the October 28, 2024, memorandum on supporting national water policy.

Moroccan National Education Minister Mohamed Berrada and French Minister Delegate for La Francophonie and International Associations Eléonore Caroit signed a declaration of intent on teaching Arabic and geography in French schools in Morocco to promote bilingual competence.

Moroccan Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh and his French counterpart Philippe Tabarot signed a three-year action plan (2026-2028) to implement technical cooperation in civil aviation. Kayouh also signed an agreement with François Lambert, Director of France’s National Maritime School (ENSM), to establish a partnership between the ENSM and Morocco’s Higher Institute of Maritime Studies (ISEM) to consolidate scientific and pedagogical exchanges.

Industry and Trade Minister Ryad Mezzour and Christelle Geneste Defaye, representative of La Poste Group’s Director-General, signed a cooperation agreement to adapt postal services to new challenges and strengthen collaboration between the two operators.

In the cultural domain, Moroccan Youth, Culture, and Communication Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and his French counterpart Catherine Pegard signed declarations of intent on cooperation in cinema and the moving image across Africa, as well as on artistic exchanges. Bensaid also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Anne-Claire Legendre, President of the Arab World Institute, to establish a general framework for cooperation aimed at developing cultural, intellectual, and civic initiatives.

The Director-General of Morocco’s Public Testing and Studies Laboratory (LPEE), Hammou Bensaadout, and the Director-General of France’s Centre for Studies and Expertise on Risks, Environment, Mobility, and Development (CEREMA), signed a cooperation framework agreement covering various fields, including soil engineering and port, hydraulic, and maritime infrastructure expertise.

Finally, Abdelaziz El Hraiki, Director of the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV), and Jean-Paul Laclau, Deputy Director General for Research and Strategy at the International Centre for Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD), signed a framework agreement on scientific cooperation covering agriculture, veterinary medicine, fisheries, and aquaculture sciences.