Morocco France strategic partnership deepens with high-level talks
- Political and strategic alignment
- The human dimension: core of Moroccan-French partnership
- Bilateral cooperation takes on new dimension
- Key agreements finalized
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch emphasized that the fifteenth high-level Morocco-France meeting marks a pivotal moment in their strengthened strategic partnership. He noted this gathering provides an opportunity to assess progress since 2024 and accelerate implementation of commitments made under this exceptional partnership framework.
This session represents a crucial step toward realizing the vision outlined by King Mohammed VI, focusing on ambitious, balanced cooperation that creates future opportunities for both nations.
Akhannouch praised French President Emmanuel Macron’s commitment to injecting fresh dynamism into the bilateral relationship, describing it as a partnership of exceptional quality between the two nations.
Political and strategic alignment
In an era of global uncertainty, Morocco and France have strengthened their political and strategic dialogue, focusing on regional and international priorities through mutual trust, shared responsibility and respect. The Moroccan Prime Minister highlighted how this alignment resonates across Mediterranean, African and Atlantic regions, particularly following France’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the Moroccan nature of the Sahara issue.
« This convergence has fostered an environment of enhanced confidence between our nations, » Akhannouch stated.
Economic cooperation has accelerated significantly since President Macron’s state visit, particularly in industrial development, decarbonization, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, innovation and productive investment.
Akhannouch emphasized the strength and quality of Morocco-France economic ties, highlighting the emergence of new value chains where banking services have become a cornerstone of the bilateral economic relationship.
The Moroccan Prime Minister also stressed the shared commitment to major technological transformations, with particular focus on artificial intelligence, digitalization, applied research and other strategic sectors designed to enhance both nations’ global competitiveness.
The human dimension: core of Moroccan-French partnership
This exceptional partnership extends beyond strategic and economic domains to embrace a fundamental shared belief: the richness of human connections between our societies. The human dimension encompasses academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, artists, creators and diaspora communities, playing a vital role in bringing our peoples together and strengthening cultural exchanges, Akhannouch explained.
Regarding human capital, Akhannouch affirmed that both countries continue advancing higher education, scientific research, vocational training, innovation and talent mobility initiatives.
Both nations also prioritize cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue, preservation of shared heritage and strengthening human exchanges, which form the living and sustainable foundation of our bilateral relationship.
Morocco and France have reaffirmed their ambition to project bilateral relations into the future, launching a new phase of strategic partnership. This initiative draws inspiration from King Mohammed VI’s vision and President Macron’s commitment to consolidating cooperation tailored to 21st-century challenges.
Both governments expressed determination to translate political commitments into concrete results, building a more effective and innovative partnership capable of addressing common challenges across economic, technological, geopolitical and human domains.
Bilateral cooperation takes on new dimension
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described this high-level Morocco-France meeting as a turning point in bilateral relations, marking implementation of commitments made during President Macron’s historic state visit to Rabat in October 2024.
The primary commitment, he noted, was to give new impetus to Morocco-France partnership by creating privileged links across ministerial, political, diplomatic, economic and cultural spheres to establish a specific governance framework between the two nations.
« France and Morocco seek to consolidate a strategic partnership that, beyond strengthening their privileged relationship with the European Union, will serve as a bridge to renewed cooperation founded on converging interests and oriented toward Africa’s development and stability, » Lecornu explained, reaffirming France’s support for the autonomy plan as a definitive solution to the Sahara conflict.
Morocco and France reaffirmed that security will remain a pillar of their strategic partnership, alongside major demographic and environmental challenges facing the continent.
Both countries will strengthen coordination against terrorism and transnational threats, convinced that regional stability requires increasingly close diplomatic and security action, according to the French Prime Minister.
Indeed, both governments agreed on the need to elevate their bilateral relations to a higher level, opening the way for new dynamics that will project Moroccan-French cooperation beyond bilateral frameworks and make it an instrument for Africa’s development, stability and integration.
Lecornu concluded by emphasizing that this high-level meeting marks a new stage in deepening the Franco-Moroccan partnership. This momentum, he added, will prepare for King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France, which will represent a key moment in Morocco-France relations and could culminate in the signing of an exceptional friendship treaty to consolidate an unprecedented strategic partnership between the two countries.
Key agreements finalized
Foreign Ministers Nasser Bourita and Jean-Noël Barrot signed a joint declaration on feminist foreign policy cooperation, aiming to strengthen feminist diplomacy at both ministerial and international levels.
Additionally, Economy Ministers Nadia Fettah and Roland Lescure signed an agreement finalizing financing for the high-speed rail program between Kenitra and Marrakech.
Also signed was a joint declaration complementing the water partnership agreement, initialed by Nadia Fettah, Roland Barrot and Catherine Bonnaud (AFD Morocco Director). This agreement builds on commitments made in the October 2024 protocol supporting Morocco’s national water policy.
Furthermore, Education Ministers Mohamed Berrada and Eléonore Caroit signed an intention declaration for teaching Arabic and geography-social studies in French schools in Morocco, promoting bilingual competence.
Transport Ministers Abdessamad Kayouh and Philippe Tabarot signed a three-year action plan (2026-2028) to implement technical cooperation in civil aviation.
Kayouh also signed an agreement with François Lambert (ENSM France) to establish a partnership between the French National Maritime School and Morocco’s Higher Institute of Maritime Studies, enhancing scientific and pedagogical exchanges.
In the postal sector, Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour and Christelle Geneste Defaye (La Poste Group) finalized a cooperation agreement to adapt postal services to new challenges and strengthen collaboration between the two operators.
Cultural cooperation featured prominently, with Culture Minister Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and his French counterpart Catherine Pegard signing intention declarations for film and moving image cooperation across Africa and artistic exchange programs.
Bensaid also signed a strategic partnership agreement with Anne-Claire Legendre (Institut du monde arabe President) to establish a general cooperation framework for cultural, intellectual and civic initiatives.
The directors of Morocco’s Public Laboratory for Testing and Studies (LPEE) and France’s Center for Studies and Expertise on Risks, Environment, Mobility and Development (CEREMA) signed a framework cooperation agreement covering soil engineering and port, hydraulic and maritime infrastructure expertise.
Finally, Abdelaziz El Hraiki (IAV Hassan II Director) and Jean-Paul Laclau (CIRAD Deputy Director General) signed a framework cooperation agreement in scientific research covering agriculture, veterinary medicine and fisheries sciences.