New bilateral treaty to reshape Morocco-France ties
Morocco and France forge historic bilateral treaty for stronger partnership
France and Morocco are set to redefine their long-standing relationship with the drafting of a landmark bilateral treaty, marking a turning point in cooperation between the two nations.
France is seeking to establish a new framework for its relationship with Morocco through a comprehensive bilateral treaty designed to govern long-term cooperation and address the challenges of the coming decades. The announcement came during a high-level meeting in Rabat, where French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu outlined the vision for this unprecedented agreement.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 15th Franco-Moroccan High-Level Meeting, Lecornu revealed that France is preparing to sign its first bilateral treaty with a non-European Union country. « This is the spirit in which we are developing a bilateral treaty between our two nations, a historic agreement that will set a unique, stable, and ambitious framework for our shared future, » he stated.
A joint committee comprising French and Moroccan representatives is currently finalizing the treaty’s content. The document aims to go beyond symbolic gestures of friendship, focusing instead on creating a robust, future-oriented partnership.
From vision to action: deepening strategic cooperation
This treaty initiative follows the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco in October 2024, where both governments committed to transforming their partnership through concrete projects and strengthened collaboration across key sectors.
Paris and Rabat are prioritizing enhanced cooperation in industries such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, defense, security, agriculture, culture, and higher education. Facilitating mobility for entrepreneurs, students, and professionals is also a key focus, fostering greater people-to-people exchanges.
Lecornu highlighted the robust counterterrorism, anti-drug trafficking, human trafficking, and irregular migration efforts already underway between Moroccan and French authorities. A comprehensive security agreement is in the works to further solidify this joint work and ensure regional stability.
The French Prime Minister also reaffirmed France’s unwavering position on the Sahara issue, describing it as « unchangeable » and emphasizing that it will continue to shape France’s relations with Morocco. This stance underscores the strategic importance of the treaty in reinforcing bilateral ties.