French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has embarked on his inaugural international diplomatic mission this week, marking his first official visits abroad since taking office at Matignon.

His journey begins in Doha, where he arrived on Tuesday to convey France’s official condolences following the passing of Qatar’s former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Accompanying him was former Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Élysée emphasized the significance of this gesture, stating it reflects the “deep friendship” between France and Qatar.

The Qatari government announced on Sunday that the former Emir, who ruled from 1995 to 2013 before abdicating in favor of his fourth son, had passed away at the age of 74. His funeral took place the same evening.

The Élysée highlighted the late Emir’s pivotal role in shaping modern Qatar, praising his “historic modernization” and “innovative and effective diplomacy.”

strengthening french-moroccan ties in Rabat

Following his stop in Doha, Lecornu will proceed to Rabat on Wednesday evening, where he will stay until Thursday. The French delegation includes twelve ministers, notably Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The visit culminates in high-level discussions with Moroccan officials, including Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

This marks the first high-level meeting between the two governments since 2019. The visit underscores efforts to bolster relations between France and Morocco, which have significantly improved since President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory—a move that strained ties with Algeria.

Macron was subsequently received in Rabat with full state honors during a three-day visit in October 2024, ending three years of diplomatic tension fueled by espionage allegations and visa disputes. That visit concluded with the signing of multiple bilateral agreements.

The visit’s potential highlight could be a reciprocal state visit by King Mohammed VI to France, potentially accompanied by the signing of a landmark treaty formalizing a “exceptional” Franco-Moroccan partnership.

As the French Prime Minister concludes his mission, the focus remains on reinforcing strategic alliances in the region, setting the stage for future cooperation.