Morocco: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu began a two-day official visit to Rabat on July 15, marking his first foreign trip since taking office and signalling France’s efforts to strengthen ties with Morocco following Paris’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Accompanied by around a dozen ministers, Lecornu is holding high-level talks focused on defence, security, economic cooperation, and investment as both countries seek to expand their strategic partnership.
Why Is France Strengthening Relations with Morocco?
The visit follows France’s 2024 decision to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, ending years of diplomatic ambiguity and paving the way for closer bilateral cooperation. The move helped restore relations after tensions between 2021 and 2023 over visa restrictions, judicial cooperation, intelligence sharing, and differing positions on Western Sahara.
What Does Lecornu’s Visit Signal for France-Morocco Ties?
The high-level meetings are aimed at translating the recent diplomatic rapprochement into practical cooperation across key sectors, including security, defence, and investment. Analysts say the visit reflects France’s broader strategy to reinforce partnerships in North Africa as geopolitical competition intensifies and Paris seeks to strengthen its regional influence.