The diplomatic climate between France and Morocco is noticeably warming. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, during his official visit to Rabat, announced the potential for a new partnership, which could culminate in a visit by King Mohammed VI to France and the signing of an “extraordinary friendship treaty” between the two nations.

This visit underscores a significant improvement in diplomatic relations that have evolved considerably over recent years. While discussions about King Mohammed VI’s trip to Paris and the “unprecedented friendship treaty” are underway, no specific timeline has been established yet.

Franco-Moroccan relations have seen a positive shift since the French head of state formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory in the summer of 2024. This move, however, did provoke a strong reaction from Algiers.

Strengthened partnership despite Pegasus concerns

Following this recognition, French President Emmanuel Macron was accorded a grand reception in Rabat in October of the same year. This high-profile visit marked an end to three years of strained relations, which had been fueled partly by allegations of espionage and a significant visa dispute. The visit concluded with the finalization of numerous agreements and the establishment of an “exceptional reinforced partnership.”

Fresh investigations were recently brought to light regarding the alleged extent of espionage activities conducted by Morocco using the Pegasus software. These reports also delved into France’s consideration of acquiring this powerful surveillance tool.

In 2021, Morocco faced accusations of deploying the Israeli-made spyware to compromise the mobile devices of several prominent national and international figures, including the French President and Sébastien Lecornu, who was then a minister. Rabat has consistently and vehemently denied these allegations.