French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will undertake an official two‑day visit to Rabat on Wednesday and Thursday, aimed at deepening bilateral ties between France and Morocco.
The visit will bring together Lecornu and a delegation of around a dozen French ministers, including Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, to discuss cooperation across several sectors.
This engagement marks Lecornu’s first trip to Morocco since assuming office in 2025 and will be the first high‑level meeting between the two governments since 2019.
Discussions are expected to focus on trade, security, migration, and defence, with the anticipation of signing multiple agreements at the conclusion of the talks.
The visit underscores France’s view of Morocco as a strategic partner in North Africa, a stance that contrasts with its more fragile relationship with Algeria.
The partnership between the two nations is built on three pillars: political and strategic alignment, economic development and social cohesion, and strategic sovereignty, bolstered by strong people‑to‑people connections.
Since France recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara in 2024, relations have intensified, positioning Morocco as a key ally amid regional dynamics.
Morocco’s king Mohammed VI and French president Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s official visit to Morocco, in the capital Rabat, on 28 October 2024. AP – Mosa’ab Elshamy 
Morocco over Algeria
France views Morocco as a strategic partner in North Africa, a move that comes against the backdrop of fragile relations with Algeria.
“Macron no longer feels the need to carefully balance his relations between Morocco and Algeria,” Abidi added.
“Emmanuel Macron, who is nearing the end of his term, does not want to leave office with a failure regarding Algeria in the Maghreb, so he is turning decisively toward Morocco,” explains historian Pierre Vermeren.
Paris appears to want to rely more heavily on its Moroccan partner now, given that Algiers remains sparing with intelligence, despite the resumption of Franco-Algerian cooperation.
King Mohammed VI to visit France?
This visit could also pave the way for a trip to France by King Mohammed VI.
The two countries are working on signing a treaty establishing an “exceptional” Franco‑Moroccan partnership, a move announced in principle last spring, though the date for finalising the agreement has not yet been revealed.
France remains Morocco’s leading economic and financial partner, while the Kingdom is France’s top African customer and supplier.
Trade between the two countries reached a record high of €14.8 billion in 2024, more than double the 2015 figure.
Morocco accounts for over 40 % of French exports to Africa, particularly in the transport, electronic equipment, chemical and cosmetics sectors.
The rapprochement is also expected to lead to new French investments.
The last visit to France by a Moroccan monarch dates back to March 2000, when King Mohammed VI made a three‑day trip, also aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.
