France is seeking to establish a fresh framework for its enduring partnership with Morocco through the creation of a comprehensive bilateral treaty. This landmark agreement aims to formalize long-term cooperation while aligning with the evolving geopolitical and economic landscape of the coming decades.

French Interior Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled this ambitious initiative during a press conference in Rabat on July 16, following the conclusion of the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting. Leading a delegation of twelve French ministers, he engaged with Moroccan counterparts to discuss the treaty’s foundational pillars.

“This treaty represents a historic first for France—a bilateral agreement with a non-European nation designed to establish a unique, stable, and forward-looking partnership,” Lecornu stated, emphasizing the agreement’s strategic significance.

A joint Franco-Moroccan committee is currently drafting the treaty’s provisions. Far beyond symbolic gestures, the document will establish concrete mechanisms for collaboration across key sectors, ensuring continuity and resilience in bilateral relations.

Redefining a strategic partnership for the future

The treaty builds upon commitments made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024. Both nations are now accelerating efforts to implement these agreements through tangible initiatives in industry, energy, transportation, defense, security, agriculture, culture, and higher education.

Enhanced mobility for entrepreneurs, students, and professionals is also a cornerstone of the proposed framework. Lecornu highlighted ongoing joint efforts between Moroccan and French authorities to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and irregular migration, signaling plans for a comprehensive security accord to further solidify this cooperation.

The French delegation underscored Paris’s unwavering stance on the Sahara issue, describing France’s position as unchangeable. This stance will continue to shape bilateral relations and guide policy decisions moving forward.