French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu made his first official trip abroad since taking office this week, landing in Morocco for a two-day diplomatic mission that underscores the growing strategic importance of Rabat in Paris’s foreign policy calculus. The visit, which began on July 15, features high-level meetings with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and a cross-governmental delegation from France, signaling a deliberate shift in focus away from traditional Maghreb balancing acts.
The delegation accompanying Lecornu includes key cabinet members such as Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, reflecting the breadth of cooperation under discussion. Their agenda spans bilateral security coordination, economic collaboration, and parliamentary diplomacy, culminating in an official luncheon and a formal ceremony at the Mohammed V Mausoleum.
During a Senate appearance ahead of the trip, Lecornu highlighted the exceptional quality of judicial and police cooperation with Morocco, calling the partnership “powerful and exemplary”. He also welcomed a visiting group of Moroccan legislators, led by Senate President Mohamed Zidouh, who engaged with French parliamentarians including François-Xavier Bellamy, Vice President of the European People’s Party, and Pierre Jouvet, Vice President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.
parliamentary ties strengthen economic and territorial priorities
Speaking in Paris, Bellamy praised the “depth of friendship and cooperation” between France and Morocco, describing the Kingdom as a beacon of openness and progress. He emphasized Morocco’s “comprehensive development drive” and urged the European Union to recognize the country’s commitment to international obligations. On the issue of Western Sahara, he reiterated France’s long-standing position supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity under international law.
Jouvet went further, labeling Morocco an “essential geopolitical partner” for both France and Europe. He stressed the need to consolidate existing gains and safeguard the partnership’s strategic foundations amid shifting regional dynamics.
The visit concludes with a formal exchange of views on shared challenges—from security cooperation to economic integration—reinforcing the message that Morocco now sits at the heart of France’s Maghreb strategy.
