French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu embarks on his inaugural international tour this week, setting his sights on Morocco following a brief stop in Qatar. The two-day official visit to Rabat, slated for Wednesday and Thursday, marks a strategic move to strengthen bilateral ties between Paris and Rabat amid flourishing relations.
Rebuilding bridges in the Maghreb
The timing of this diplomatic mission couldn’t be more opportune. After years of strained relations, Franco-Moroccan ties have reached unprecedented levels following France’s endorsement of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara Occidental in mid-2024. This landmark decision, which drew sharp criticism from Algiers, paved the way for President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in October 2024—a three-day affair that concluded with the signing of multiple economic agreements.
With the previous tensions—including visa disputes and espionage allegations—now firmly in the past, both nations are capitalizing on this newfound harmony.
