During his two-day official visit to Rabat, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening France-Morocco relations. The high-level talks, which included a meeting of the 15th High-Level Dialogue—a bilateral platform dormant since 2019—highlighted a shared vision for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

A new chapter in bilateral relations

The visit follows a period of diplomatic strain that began in 2021, marked by tensions over visa policies and allegations of espionage using the Pegasus software. However, the trajectory shifted decisively in October 2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron was received in Rabat with full honors, culminating in the signing of an exceptional strengthened partnership and the establishment of a new diplomatic roadmap.

Key agreements and future prospects

Among the most significant outcomes of the visit was the announcement that King Mohammed VI could make an official state visit to Paris in the coming months. Additionally, both leaders discussed the possibility of signing a historic friendship treaty between the two nations, a move that would further solidify their strategic alliance.

Lecornu, who arrived in Rabat accompanied by a delegation of twelve ministers including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, emphasized the importance of security cooperation and the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region. He stated, “We are at a pivotal moment in our bilateral relationship, and we must scale up our efforts to address shared challenges.”

Addressing regional security concerns

The leaders underscored their converging interests in Africa, particularly in countering the growing threat of jihadist groups in the Sahel. Lecornu proposed positioning France as a “port of call” for Morocco’s relationship with the European Union, facilitating greater collaboration and dialogue between Rabat and Brussels.

Akhannouch, for his part, stressed the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the 2024 partnership agreements. “We must prepare the next steps to ensure that our commitments translate into concrete actions,” he stated.

Overcoming past tensions

The warming of relations comes despite lingering controversies, including recent reports by an international consortium of media outlets on the alleged use of Pegasus for espionage. While concerns over digital surveillance have been raised in the past, both countries have chosen to focus on the future. Morocco has consistently denied any involvement in such activities, calling the allegations “unfounded and baseless.”

The visit concluded with a joint declaration emphasizing the need to consolidate privileged relations. In a message relayed by the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP) on the occasion of France’s Bastille Day, King Mohammed VI praised the progress made in strengthening ties between the two countries.

As both nations look ahead, the visit of Sébastien Lecornu to Rabat signals a clear intent to move beyond past disagreements and build a robust, forward-looking partnership grounded in mutual trust and shared objectives.