Morocco and France are preparing to take a new step in their bilateral relationship with the drafting of an “extraordinary friendship treaty,” that was announced Thursday in Rabat during the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu indicated that King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France should pave the way for the conclusion of the agreement, which aims to go beyond the framework of the “strengthened exceptional partnership” established between the two countries.
Co-chairing the meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Aziz Akhannouch, Sébastien Lecornu described it as a “pivotal moment” for Franco-Moroccan relations.
He emphasised the need to revitalise this interministerial cooperation mechanism, the last iteration of which in Morocco dates back to 2017.
The French official recalled the momentum generated since Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024, marked by an intensification of government exchanges and ministerial visits.
According to him, this new phase should lead to a major political agreement between Rabat and Paris.
The two countries particularly wish to strengthen their cooperation in the areas of security, the fight against terrorism, European issues, and African challenges related to stability and development.
Sebastien Lecornu presented Morocco and France as a “port of call” between the European Union and Africa.
Aziz Akhannouch considered the 15th High-Level Meeting an essential framework for monitoring the commitments made within the framework of the strengthened partnership and identifying new
structuring projects.
This meeting comes in a context of rapprochement between Rabat and Paris, particularly following the evolution of the French position on the Western Sahara issue. The meeting’s work should lead to the signing of several bilateral agreements before a joint declaration by the two heads of government.
MK/te/fss/as/APA