Rabat — On instructions from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for National Defense Administration, hosted French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, in Rabat today. The meeting was attended by a high-ranking Moroccan military delegation led by the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone.
Minister Vautrin is part of a high-level French delegation accompanying Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu during an official working visit to Morocco. This visit coincides with the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting, a platform dedicated to strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the talks, both sides signed a technical arrangement and a memorandum of understanding focused on enhancing bilateral defense industry cooperation, as confirmed by the National Defense Administration. The discussions also covered regional and bilateral issues, with a focus on identifying new avenues to bolster and expand military ties between Morocco and France.
Both delegations underscored their shared commitment to deepening these strategic partnerships by implementing the legal instruments agreed upon during the 15th High-Level Meeting. The session was co-chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu.
The meeting concluded with the signing of eleven cooperation agreements spanning key sectors, including the development of the Rabat Regional Express Rail (RER) network, water resource management, and administrative decentralization.
This 15th edition of the Morocco-France High-Level Meeting takes place against the backdrop of an exceptional partnership and strengthened political ties, further reinforced by France’s historic shift in stance. Paris has officially endorsed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and recognized Moroccan authority over its southern provinces, marking a pivotal moment in bilateral relations.