Morocco and France said Thursday that their strengthened strategic partnership has entered its implementation phase after concluding the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting in Rabat with the signing of 12 cooperation agreements spanning infrastructure, transport, water, education, culture and scientific research.
The meeting, co-chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, brought together 22 ministers from both governments and marked another step in the renewed bilateral relationship launched by King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron.
“The strengthened exceptional partnership, initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron, has now entered its full implementation phase,” Akhannouch said after the meeting.
The agreements signed Thursday build on the 22 strategic accords worth nearly €10 billion concluded during President Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024.
Among the projects announced are financing arrangements for the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail extension, cooperation on water resources, a three-year civil aviation action plan, expanded cultural exchanges, strengthened scientific research partnerships and support for Arabic language and history teaching in French schools in Morocco.
Lecornu also announced that France would launch a tender for a future electricity interconnection between the two countries, adding a new dimension to bilateral energy cooperation.
Friendship treaty planned
Officials said the high-level meeting also reviewed progress made on previous agreements and established a roadmap for the coming months, culminating in King Mohammed VI’s planned state visit to France in September.
That visit is expected to be marked by the signing of a friendship treaty between Morocco and France.
Lecornu described the agreement as unprecedented, saying it would become the first friendship treaty France signs with a country outside Europe.
Security and defense
Beyond economic cooperation, ministers discussed security, irregular migration and counterterrorism.
Lecornu said both governments had received a clear mandate from King Mohammed VI and President Macron to ensure that commitments made during Macron’s visit to Morocco are fully implemented while identifying new areas of cooperation.
He also announced that Morocco and France are working toward a comprehensive bilateral security agreement focused on combating organized crime.
Shared strategic vision
Akhannouch said the renewed partnership extends beyond the two countries’ longstanding historical ties.
“It is based on a shared strategic vision, clear political convergence, renewed trust and a common ambition to address today’s major global challenges,” he said.
He noted that more than 40 high-level bilateral visits have taken place in less than two years, involving governments, regional authorities, businesses, universities and civil society organizations.
France reaffirms Sahara position
During his visit to Rabat, Lecornu also reiterated France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, describing Paris’ position—first announced by President Macron during his 2024 visit to Morocco—as unchanged.
“The position of France will not change,” he said.
Before returning to France on Thursday afternoon, Lecornu and members of the French delegation attended a luncheon offered by King Mohammed VI in honor of the visiting delegation.
