French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has landed in Rabat today at the helm of an unprecedented 12-member ministerial delegation, marking the launch of the 15th High-Level Meeting (HLM) between France and Morocco. This high-profile diplomatic gathering is set to redefine the strategic partnership between the two nations.

The delegation includes key figures such as Laurent Nunez (Minister of Interior), Catherine Vautrin (Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs), Roland Lescure (Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty), Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs), and Naïma Moutchou (Minister of Overseas Territories), among others. Senators and deputies like Christian Cambon and Karim Ben Cheikh are also part of the entourage and will engage with their Moroccan counterparts in parliamentary discussions.

Strengthening bilateral ties through structured dialogue

The 15th HLM, hosted at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represents the resumption of a dialogue framework established in 1997. The last session took place in Paris in December 2019, and this meeting aims to assess ongoing projects while setting new priorities for future collaboration.

This gathering follows the enhanced exceptional partnership agreement signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron. Key discussion areas include internal security, combating irregular migration, organized crime, narcotics trafficking, agriculture, infrastructure, water management, public administration modernization, artificial intelligence, defense industries, and preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Economic and cultural milestones on the agenda

Economic initiatives such as the expansion of Safran Electronics & Defense’s industrial site and Alstom’s new production facility in Fès are expected to gain further momentum. Discussions will also cover decentralized cooperation, the Rabat Regional Express Rail (RER), water resource development, the Casablanca-Settat region’s growth, civil aviation, cinema, artist residencies, and Arabic language education within France’s school network.

One of the highlights of the meeting will be the signing of around 15 agreements across critical sectors. Additionally, the two nations are laying the groundwork for a future bilateral treaty that will solidify their long-term partnership ahead of King Mohammed VI’s upcoming state visit to France.

The sessions will feature bilateral talks between the two prime ministers, sector-specific ministerial meetings, a joint plenary session to outline shared priorities, and a concluding synthesis presented by the foreign affairs ministers.