Morocco and France are poised to take a new step forward in revitalizing their strategic partnership. With preparations underway for King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France, the prospect of a groundbreaking bilateral treaty, and strengthened cooperation regarding the southern provinces, Rabat and Paris are demonstrating their commitment to steering their relationship toward a new political, economic, and geostrategic dynamic.
During a joint press conference held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Rabat, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, outlined the contours of this new phase in Moroccan-French relations, which began with the position expressed by Emmanuel Macron in July 2024 on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.
The French president had stated at the time that “the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” while describing the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom as “the only basis for reaching a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
Since that diplomatic development, exchanges between Rabat and Paris have intensified considerably.
The French foreign minister also strongly reaffirmed Paris’s position on the Moroccan Sahara, describing the issue as “existential for Morocco, but also strategic for France and for the region.” He reiterated that, in line with the position expressed by Emmanuel Macron, “the present and future of this territory fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
In this regard, Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that a state visit by King Mohammed VI to France is now “scheduled,” though he did not specify the date. “We are preparing to welcome His Majesty on a state visit to France. This will be a historic milestone in Franco-Moroccan relations,” stated the French foreign minister, noting that “much has been accomplished since President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Morocco in the fall of 2024.”
Discussions between the two ministers also focused on preparations for the next Moroccan-French Joint High Commission on Political and Economic Cooperation, scheduled for next July in Rabat under the chairmanship of the heads of government of both countries.
Jean-Noël Barrot noted that the two heads of state had established “a clear and ambitious roadmap,” which is now being implemented through intensified bilateral cooperation. According to him, “all the engines of the Franco-Moroccan relationship are now running at full speed,” thanks to “shared approaches” and mutual potential in several strategic sectors.
The French minister emphasized that this momentum is based as much on the historical ties between the two countries as on a shared desire to reinvent their partnership. “Our businesses, our government agencies, and our cultural and artistic communities have forged deep human bonds that allow our two peoples to naturally reach out to one another,” he stated, noting that this closeness constitutes “an extraordinary asset.”
For both Paris and Rabat, the goal is no longer simply to maintain the historical achievements of the bilateral relationship, but to open up new areas of cooperation. “We could have been content to live off our historical capital, but we have chosen to reinvent ourselves together,” insisted Jean-Noël Barrot.
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