French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu landed in Rabat late Wednesday evening, greeted at the airport by Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and a high-level delegation. The visit marks a critical step in strengthening Franco-Moroccan relations following recent diplomatic breakthroughs.

Accompanied by twelve ministers—including Foreign Affairs head Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez—Lecornu received full military honors upon arrival around 10 PM local time.

His itinerary included a stop in Doha, where he conveyed France’s official condolences to Qatar following the passing of former Emir Sheikh Hamad ben Khalifa al-Thani. Morocco’s Prime Minister Akhannouch also attended the Qatari ceremony as the kingdom’s representative.

A new chapter in bilateral relations

Franco-Moroccan ties have flourished since President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in summer 2024—a move that strained relations with Algeria. The gesture was reciprocated last October when Macron received a lavish welcome in Rabat, culminating in the signing of an exceptional strengthened partnership agreement.

In a July 14 message to Macron, King Mohammed VI highlighted the “consolidation” of the two nations’ “privileged relationship,” according to Morocco’s official press agency.

Expanding cooperation across key sectors

Thursday’s agenda includes a joint ceremony at the royal mausoleum, followed by a bilateral meeting where ministers will align on strategic initiatives. The highlight will be the fifteenth High-Level Meeting between delegations—a dialogue dormant since 2019. Over a dozen agreements are set to be signed, spanning economy, security, migration and defense.

• Economic ties: expansion of civil aviation cooperation and a new Rabat regional express rail (RER) line
• Energy: plans for an interconnection project to share electricity between the two countries
• Water management: partnership agreements to address shared resource challenges

Defense collaboration is also on the table, with discussions on potential arms procurement partnerships. In culture, a landmark strategic agreement will link the Institut du monde arabe in Paris with Morocco’s Ministry of Culture.

Shifting alliances in the Maghreb

France has recalibrated its Maghreb strategy, prioritizing Morocco over its traditional balancing act with Algeria. This shift comes as Paris seeks a more reliable regional partner, particularly in the Sahel security dossier, where Morocco’s intelligence-sharing capabilities are increasingly valued.