French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Morocco on Monday, October 28 to strengthen ties with North Africa’s westernmost kingdom, where he will engage in a series of diplomatic talks and meetings focused on trade, climate action, and immigration.
Macron is expected to meet with King Mohammed VI, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, and Morocco’s parliamentary leaders during his three-day visit.
This visit marks a significant chapter in Franco-Moroccan relations following Macron’s recent endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. This shift in France’s stance has distanced it from Algeria, Morocco’s regional rival.
The Western Sahara conflict has long been a source of tension, with Algeria supporting the pro-independence Polisario Front and calling for a UN-backed referendum in the region.
Renewed Partnership Amid Regional Tensions
Macron’s diplomatic trip has been warmly received in Morocco, with local publications celebrating what they have called a “warm reunion” and a “new honeymoon” between the nations. French flags are flying across Rabat, Morocco’s capital, symbolizing this renewed partnership.
Morocco has historically been France’s top trade partner in Africa, and France is Morocco’s largest foreign investor.
Bilateral trade between the two nations has fostered economic cooperation across several sectors. France exports goods such as cereals, turbines for renewable energy, and weapons to Morocco, while Morocco’s exports to France include agricultural products like tomatoes, as well as manufactured goods like cars and airplane parts.
These exchanges underscore both countries’ reliance on each other, making Macron’s visit a pivotal moment in affirming their mutual interests in the face of a changing global economy.
Macron and King Mohammed VI are expected to discuss climate issues, an area where both countries have shown a growing commitment. Morocco’s investments in renewable energy, coupled with France’s technological advancements, present significant partnership opportunities.
Growing Focus on Immigration Cooperation
Immigration will be another central theme of the visit. France is home to one of the largest Moroccan expatriate communities, making Moroccan-born citizens an influential group within France. The country’s recent shift to a hard-line stance on immigration, spearheaded by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, seeks to address migration concerns while strengthening ties with countries like Morocco to help manage migration flows into Europe.
On his last visit to Morocco, Macron joined King Mohammed VI to inaugurate Africa’s first high-speed rail line, Al Boraq, which was built with French funding and trains supplied by French firm Alstrom. This collaboration underscores the extent to which French support has fueled Morocco’s infrastructure growth.
But, relations between the two countries have not always been smooth. In 2021, Morocco temporarily suspended consular relations after France cut the number of visas issued to Moroccans in protest of the country’s refusal to repatriate undocumented migrants.
The diplomatic rift grew further after reports that Moroccan security services allegedly used Israeli spyware to target the devices of activists and political figures, including Macron. Morocco has denied the allegations and is pursuing legal action over the claims, but the incident marked a turning point in their relationship.
As Macron embarks on this latest diplomatic journey to Morocco, both nations are set to redefine their partnership amid new regional and global challenges.
With shared economic interests, immigration cooperation, and an emphasis on climate initiatives, France and Morocco continue to find common ground despite past tensions, moving forward in what is hoped to be a new era of collaboration.
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