French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu embarks on his first international tour since assuming office, with a stop in Rabat on Wednesday and Thursday. His agenda includes high-level discussions aimed at strengthening France-Morocco relations, potentially paving the way for a state visit by King Mohammed VI to Paris.
Rebuilding diplomatic bridges
The two-day visit follows a period of strained relations that persisted until recent months. A turning point came when President Emmanuel Macron formally endorsed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara in mid-2024, a move that strained ties with Alger but was warmly received in Rabat. This gesture marked the beginning of a thaw in bilateral relations, culminating in a three-day state visit by Macron to Morocco in October 2024, where several major commercial agreements were finalized.
Analysts describe the current dynamic as a strategic shift. “The relations are now at their best, and it’s time to capitalize on this momentum,” noted Hasni Abidi, director of the Centre for Studies and Research on the Arab and Mediterranean World in Geneva. He emphasized that Paris is no longer attempting to balance its approach between Morocco and Algeria, a policy that had long complicated diplomatic efforts in the region.
Key agreements and security talks
The visit will commence with a ceremonial welcome on Wednesday evening, followed by a solemn wreath-laying at the royal mausoleum. On Thursday, a bilateral meeting between Lecornu and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch will set the stage for a series of high-level discussions.
Among the priorities: the signing of multiple agreements spanning economic cooperation, security partnerships, migration policies, and defense collaboration. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez is expected to hold talks with his counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, focusing on a sensitive extradition case involving a Franco-Moroccan national wanted for a 2019 murder in Paris.
The French government’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara will also be a focal point. This backing contributed to the adoption of a 2025 UN resolution favorable to Morocco’s position. The disputed territory, a former Spanish colony, has been a longstanding source of tension between Rabat and the Polisario Front, which is backed by Algiers.
A new chapter for France-Morocco relations
The visit is widely seen as a precursor to a historic state visit by King Mohammed VI to France, where a landmark partnership treaty could be signed. While no date has been set, officials confirmed the agreement’s outline was discussed during a bilateral meeting at the end of May. The last official visit by the Moroccan monarch to France dates back to March 2000.
This trip marks a significant departure from Lecornu’s low-profile start in office, which began amid a period of political turbulence in late 2025. Before heading to Rabat, the Prime Minister will pay respects in Doha, honoring the late Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
