Morocco and France are preparing to sign a treaty aimed at deepening ties, the countries’ foreign ministers said on Wednesday.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said the agreement would be the first treaty Morocco signs with a European country. He made the remarks after talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Rabat, ahead of an upcoming state visit by King Mohammed VI to France. The date of the visit was not specified.
“This will be the first treaty of its kind with a non-European country,” Barrot said, adding that the goal is to establish a basis for long-term relations.
Bourita described the partnership as being in “its best era at all levels,” citing cooperation in defense industry, security, and aeronautics.
Barrot said France supports the resumption of direct talks on Western Sahara based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, in line with UN Security Council resolution 2797. France recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory in 2024, a move that strained ties with Algeria, which backs the Polisario Front.
Barrot also said Morocco is France’s top economic partner in Africa and serves as a logistical and financial hub between France and parts of the continent. He noted that as France reduces its presence in West Africa and the Sahel, Morocco has expanded its influence through trade, fertilizers, banking, telecoms, and construction.
