French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu (left) and Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch at a press conference in Rabat following high-level talks
French-Moroccan relations have reached a new zenith after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s working visit to Rabat, where both nations reaffirmed their recovered confidence in bilateral cooperation. The meeting marked a decisive step in healing diplomatic rifts that had persisted since 2023.
In a joint statement, Lecornu hailed an exceptionally positive outcome, emphasizing the robust momentum following President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara—a move that strained ties with Algiers. The gesture was reciprocated with a lavish state visit by Macron to Rabat in October 2024, effectively closing a chapter of suspicion and visa restrictions.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch embrace after closed-door discussions in Rabat
Diplomatic breakthrough amid lingering scrutiny
Despite the cordial atmosphere, international media outlets reignited debates over alleged Pegasus spyware use by Morocco. Officials dismissed the claims as baseless allegations, though the controversy briefly overshadowed the visit. The scheduled press conference was reduced to a brief statement without Q&A, signaling cautious optics.
A partnership unlike any other
French officials framed the visit as a turning point in bilateral relations. Macron’s office underscored the goal of deepening cooperation with Morocco, now Paris’s top priority in the Maghreb, as France pivots away from its previous balancing act with Algeria.
King Mohammed VI, in a 14-July message to Macron, praised the strengthening of privileged ties between the two nations. A landmark treaty—a first for France outside the EU—is in the works, though no royal visit date has been confirmed. The proposed accord would formalize an unprecedented strategic alignment.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addresses Moroccan ministers during a plenary session in Rabat
Lecornu, accompanied by twelve ministers including Foreign Affairs’ Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, led a delegation of over 100 officials. The 15th High-Level Meeting—suspended since 2019—resumed with a focus on security and counterterrorism cooperation in the Sahel.
Security and mobility: key pledges
The French side highlighted unprecedented operational successes in combating organized crime and drug trafficking, crediting close intelligence-sharing. Lecornu also announced plans to ease visa policies for Moroccan students and entrepreneurs, easing restrictions that had sparked tensions in 2021–2022.
French delegation, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, arrives at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Sahel, where jihadist threats persist. Morocco’s strategic role in regional security was underscored as France seeks to rely more heavily on Rabat amid Algeria’s restrained intelligence-sharing.
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch described the partnership as a shared strategic vision, built on mutual trust and common ambitions. Twelve agreements were signed, including a call for bids on cross-border electricity interconnection and loans from the French Development Agency for water projects and Rabat’s RER rail line.
