French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu landed in Rabat Wednesday evening, greeted by Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch as part of an official visit aimed at solidifying bilateral relations ahead of a potential state visit by King Mohammed VI to France.

Lecornu arrived in Morocco directly from Qatar, where he conveyed France’s condolences following the passing of the former Qatari emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch had also traveled to Doha to offer his country’s condolences.

The visit comes at a pivotal moment in Franco-Moroccan relations, which have significantly improved since French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory in the summer of 2024—a move that strained relations with Algeria.

Macron’s subsequent state visit to Rabat in October 2024 marked the end of three years of diplomatic tension between the two nations. The trip culminated in the signing of a landmark “exceptional strengthened partnership” and multiple bilateral agreements spanning trade, infrastructure, and security.

In a message to Macron on France’s national holiday, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI highlighted the “consolidation” of the two countries’ privileged relations, according to Morocco’s official news agency.

Fifteen agreements on the agenda for high-level talks

The visit will officially commence Thursday with a ceremony at the royal mausoleum, followed by a bilateral meeting where each minister will hold discussions with their Moroccan counterpart. The highlight of the visit will be the 15th edition of the High-Level Joint Commission—a dialogue platform that has not convened since 2019.

The commission is expected to result in the signing of approximately fifteen agreements covering key sectors such as civil aviation, the development of a new regional express rail network in Rabat, water resource management, and an interconnection project for cross-border electricity supply.

Defense cooperation will also take center stage, with discussions on potential armaments partnerships. Additionally, a strategic cultural agreement is set to be signed between the Arab World Institute in Paris and Morocco’s Ministry of Culture, reinforcing educational and cultural exchanges.

France prioritizes Morocco in Maghreb diplomacy

Morocco has emerged as a key partner for France in the Maghreb region, with Paris shifting its diplomatic focus away from its previous efforts to maintain a delicate balance with Algeria. This strategic realignment is particularly evident in the Sahel security dossier, where France is increasingly relying on Morocco as a partner, despite Algeria’s limited intelligence-sharing following the resumption of Franco-Algerian cooperation.