France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu disembarks from his plane upon his arrival at Rabat-Salé Airport in Rabat on July 15, 2026. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)
The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, landed in Rabat late last night, greeted at the airport by his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch and several government officials. The visit marks a pivotal step in deepening the strategic partnership between France and Morocco, ahead of an anticipated state visit by King Mohammed VI to Paris.
A delegation of twelve French ministers accompanied Lecornu, including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The high-level reception included military honors, underscoring the significance of this diplomatic mission.
Lecornu arrived directly from Qatar, where he conveyed France’s official condolences following the passing of the former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Morocco’s Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, had also traveled to Doha to pay respects on behalf of his country.
The strengthening of Franco-Moroccan relations gained momentum after President Emmanuel Macron formally acknowledged Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region in mid-2024—a move that strained ties with Algeria. The French President’s subsequent state visit to Rabat in October 2024, marked by lavish ceremonies, helped restore bilateral relations. This visit culminated in the signing of a landmark “exceptional strengthened partnership,” along with multiple trade agreements.
In a congratulatory message to Macron on the occasion of France’s National Day, King Mohammed VI highlighted the “consolidation of privileged relations” between the two nations, according to Morocco’s official news agency.
Thursday’s agenda includes a solemn visit to the royal mausoleum, followed by a bilateral meeting where each minister will meet their Moroccan counterpart. The highlight of the visit will be the 15th High-Level Meeting, a dialogue platform that had not convened since 2019. Fifteen agreements are set to be signed across key sectors, including:
- Civil aviation and the establishment of a new Rabat regional express rail network
- A water resource partnership and plans for an electrical interconnection project
- Defense cooperation initiatives in armaments
- A strategic cultural partnership between the Arab World Institute in Paris and Morocco’s Ministry of Culture
The visit underscores Morocco’s rising priority in France’s Maghreb policy, as Paris shifts away from its previous efforts to balance relations with Algeria. On regional security in the Sahel, France appears increasingly reliant on Morocco as a key partner, particularly as Algeria remains cautious in sharing intelligence despite the recent thaw in Franco-Algerian relations.
While the exact date for King Mohammed VI’s reciprocal visit to France has not been finalized, both sides have confirmed its eventuality. This visit promises to further solidify the deepening ties between the two nations.
