Morocco and France deepen defense cooperation in Rabat summit
On instructions from King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for National Defense Administration, welcomed Catherine Vautrin, France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, in Rabat today. The meeting was attended by a high-ranking military official, the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone.
Catherine Vautrin is part of a high-level French delegation led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, currently on an official working visit to Morocco. This visit coincides with the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, aimed at strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the talks, both sides signed a technical arrangement and a memorandum focusing on bilateral defense industry cooperation, as confirmed by a statement from the National Defense Administration.
The discussions also covered bilateral and regional issues, exploring avenues to enhance and expand Morocco-France military cooperation. Both parties reaffirmed their shared goal of solidifying these ties by implementing the legal instruments signed during the 15th High-Level Meeting.
Broad Cooperation Framework Emerges from High-Level Talks
A total of 22 Moroccan and French ministers participated in the High-Level Meeting, jointly chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu. The meeting concluded with the signing of eleven cooperation agreements spanning diverse areas, including the development of a Regional Express Rail (RER) network in Rabat, water resources management, and decentralization initiatives.
Strategic Partnership Strengthened Amid Evolving Geopolitical Landscape
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting takes place against a backdrop of an exceptional partnership and deepening political ties between the two nations. This comes as France adopts a historic stance, officially supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and recognizing its control over the entirety of its southern provinces.
