French premier’s Rabat trip points to deeper Morocco ties

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu used his first official foreign trip to visit Morocco, a two-day mission on July 15 and 16 that underscored Paris’s effort to repair and expand ties with Rabat, Al Jazeera reported. The visit matters because France is trying to turn its 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara into closer work on defence, security and investment.

Lecornu travelled with about a dozen ministers, according to Al Jazeera. The meetings covered defence, security, economic cooperation and investment after a difficult period in relations between the two countries.

Between 2021 and 2023, Franco-Moroccan ties were strained by disputes over visa restrictions, judicial cooperation, intelligence sharing and France’s earlier reluctance to take a clear position on Western Sahara, Al Jazeera reported. The territory is claimed by Morocco and by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.

A reset after Western Sahara shift

President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara ended years of French ambiguity, according to Al Jazeera. That decision opened the way for a broader thaw between Paris and Rabat.

Ouissal Marsaoui, a researcher in international relations, told Al Jazeera that Lecornu’s visit should be read as an effort to turn the political shift into practical cooperation. She said France is reassessing its regional policy as its influence faces pressure in North Africa and the Sahel.

Marsaoui said states often reposition when older partnerships weaken and other powers gain ground. Al Jazeera reported that France is seeking reliable partners as China, Turkiye, Gulf states and the United States expand their roles across Africa.

Morocco’s role for France

Morocco has become more important to Europe-Africa trade over the past decade through port expansion, infrastructure, renewable energy investment and a more active diplomatic presence in West Africa and the Sahel, Al Jazeera reported. The Tanger Med port complex, industrial zones and transport routes have strengthened Rabat’s position as an entry point for European companies looking toward African markets.

Ahlam Qafas, an economics professor at ENCG Kenitra, told Al Jazeera that Morocco’s rise as a Mediterranean logistics hub has added weight to its relationship with France. She said French cooperation can help Morocco gain investment and access to technology in areas including artificial intelligence, big data and advanced manufacturing.

For France, closer economic ties with Morocco offer a route to recover commercial ground lost elsewhere in Africa, Al Jazeera reported. For Morocco, renewed French engagement could support investment in transport infrastructure, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, defence industries and digital technologies.

Security and regional interests

Security is a central part of the renewed relationship, according to Al Jazeera. Areas under discussion include intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, defence industrial cooperation and migration.

France’s interest in Morocco also comes as its relations with Algeria remain tense and its influence in the Sahel has declined after military-led governments and diplomatic setbacks, Al Jazeera reported. Rabat, meanwhile, has built its appeal through political stability and expanding defence capabilities.

Marsaoui told Al Jazeera that defence and military cooperation linked to Western Sahara gives France’s recognition greater institutional weight. She said it shifts the policy from a presidential decision into a longer-term state orientation.

Nouh El Harmouzi, founder of the Arab Center for Scientific Research and Humane Studies, told Al Jazeera the visit is more important for what it signals than for any specific outcome. He said the relationship is moving toward cooperation based on shared strategic needs across defence, trade and regional security.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.