French diplomacy has shifted its focus toward Morocco, marking a clear departure from its traditional approach of balancing relations across the Maghreb. This strategic realignment comes ahead of a two-day official visit by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Rabat on July 15 and 16.
Lecornu’s first international trip since taking office underscores the significance of this engagement, as he leads a high-profile delegation including key ministers such as Foreign Affairs representative Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Their agenda includes a bilateral meeting with Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch, followed by a joint press conference in the late morning.
The visit’s schedule also features a high-level gathering between French and Moroccan officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as a ceremonial wreath-laying at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. In recent statements, Lecornu highlighted the exceptional strength of law enforcement and judicial cooperation between the two nations, describing their partnership as robust and effective.
Parliamentary ties and strategic alignment
During a Senate session in Paris, Lecornu also commended the presence of a Moroccan parliamentary delegation, invited by Senator Christian Cambon, chairman of the France-Morocco Friendship Group. This gathering reflects the deepening parliamentary diplomacy between the countries, with Moroccan Senate leader Mohamed Zidouh engaging with French and European lawmakers.
Among the European officials present were François-Xavier Bellamy, Vice President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Pierre Jouvet, Vice President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Fabienne Keller, Quaestor of the European Parliament. Bellamy emphasized the depth of friendship and cooperation between France and Morocco, hailing the Kingdom as a model of progress and openness.
He also praised Morocco’s comprehensive developmental trajectory, urging the European Union to acknowledge the nation’s serious, credible, and committed efforts. Addressing territorial integrity, Bellamy reiterated France’s stance on Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, framing it as a position rooted in international law.
Pierre Jouvet, for his part, described Morocco as an indispensable geopolitical partner for both France and Europe, stressing the need to reinforce bilateral relations and safeguard existing achievements.
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