French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu arrives in Rabat on Wednesday and Thursday for a high-stakes official visit aimed at deepening strategic ties with Morocco.

On July 15 and 16, Lecornu will lead a delegation including key ministers such as Foreign Affairs head Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The visit marks their first high-level meeting since 2019, reflecting both nations’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Relations between France and Morocco have warmed significantly since President Emmanuel Macron’s historic recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in summer 2024, a move that strained ties with Algeria. Macron’s subsequent three-day state visit to Rabat in October 2024 marked the end of a three-year rift, marked by espionage allegations and visa disputes, and resulted in multiple trade agreements.

Upcoming agreements and security talks

This marks Lecornu’s first international trip since assuming office in late 2025. Upon arrival Wednesday evening, he will receive a military honor guard before joining Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch for a wreath-laying ceremony at the royal mausoleum. The following morning, bilateral talks will take place at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where several cooperation agreements are expected to be signed across economic, security, migration, and defense sectors.

The visit is widely seen as a pivotal moment to revitalize historical ties and establish a more robust, long-term partnership between the two nations.

Potential extradition and future investments

During the visit, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will meet with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, to discuss the possible extradition of Franco-Moroccan national Ismael Benahmed. Benahmed, suspected of a 2019 Paris murder, was recently arrested in Morocco.

French investments in Morocco are also expected to rise as part of the ongoing rapprochement. The culmination of this strengthened relationship could be a state visit by King Mohammed VI to France, potentially accompanied by the signing of a landmark partnership treaty. While no date has been set, the foreign ministers of both countries announced the initiative’s framework in late May.