Enhanced defence ties between Morocco and France during Rabat meeting
Under the directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for National Defence Administration, hosted French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, Catherine Vautrin, this Thursday in Rabat. The meeting took place alongside the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone.
Minister Vautrin arrived in Morocco as part of a high-level French delegation led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, attending the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting aimed at deepening and diversifying bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the discussions, both sides signed a technical arrangement and a memorandum of understanding focused on defence industry collaboration, as confirmed by a statement from the National Defence Administration.
Key topics included bilateral and regional matters, along with strategies to further strengthen and expand Morocco-France military cooperation. Both delegations reaffirmed their shared commitment to solidifying these ties by implementing the legal frameworks finalised during the 15th High-Level Meeting.
Twenty-two ministers from both nations participated in the High-Level Meeting, co-chaired by Morocco’s Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu. The session concluded with the signing of eleven cooperation agreements spanning diverse areas, from the development of a Regional Express Rail (RER) network in Rabat to water resources and decentralisation initiatives.
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting unfolded against a backdrop of exceptional partnership and strengthened political ties, highlighted by France’s historic shift in stance, including official backing for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and recognition of its authority over all southern provinces.