Morocco and France strengthen defence ties in Rabat talks
At the express directive of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for National Defence Administration, welcomed Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, in Rabat on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by a high-ranking FAR official, the Army Corps General and Inspector General commanding the Southern Zone.
Catherine Vautrin headed a substantial French delegation accompanying French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu during an official working visit to Morocco. The visit coincides with the 15th High-Level Morocco-France Meeting, aimed at deepening and diversifying bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the session, both delegations formalised two key agreements: a technical arrangement and a memorandum focused on bilateral defence industry cooperation, as confirmed by an official statement from the National Defence Administration.
Discussions also covered bilateral and regional topics, with a focus on identifying new avenues to expand and strengthen Morocco-France military cooperation. Both sides underscored their shared commitment to reinforcing these ties through the implementation of legal instruments finalised during the 15th High-Level Session.
The high-level gathering brought together 22 ministers from both nations, co-chaired by Morocco’s Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch and France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The meeting culminated in the signing of 11 cooperation agreements spanning diverse areas, including the launch of a Rabat regional express rail network, water resource management, and local governance initiatives.
The 15th High-Level Morocco-France Meeting unfolds against a backdrop of exceptional partnership and strengthened political bonds, highlighted by France’s historic shift in stance. This includes official French endorsement of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces and recognition of the Sahara’s Moroccan identity.
