French prime minister sebastien lecornu visits Morocco to boost ties

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu landed in Rabat on Wednesday evening for a two-day official visit to bolster the strategic partnership between France and Morocco. The timing reflects a deliberate effort to revitalize bilateral relations after years of fluctuating ties.

Warmly received by Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, Lecornu is leading a delegation of twelve French ministers. This high-profile visit follows a period of diplomatic engagement aimed at aligning interests in North Africa and beyond.

During his stay, Sébastien Lecornu and Aziz Akhannouch will hold a bilateral meeting before co-chairing the 15th edition of the High-Level Franco-Moroccan Meeting. This long-standing dialogue mechanism, which serves as a key platform for political and economic coordination, has not convened since 2019.

The agenda includes discussions on deepening economic exchanges, fostering cross-border investments, enhancing security and defense cooperation, and addressing critical issues such as energy, infrastructure development, and ecological transition.

French and Moroccan authorities have announced that around fifteen agreements are expected to be signed during this visit.

Key areas covered by these agreements include civil aviation, water management, strategic infrastructure, electricity interconnection, security cooperation, and multiple cultural initiatives.

In the cultural sphere, both nations are set to formalize a strategic partnership between the Arab World Institute in Paris and Morocco’s Ministry of Culture. The collaboration aims to strengthen artistic, heritage, and academic exchanges between the two countries.