French Morocco is back: French Prime Minister Lecornu’s visit to Rabat shows | Story

Rabat, Morocco – Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s first foreign trip, a two-day visit to Morocco on July 15-16, is the latest step in Paris’ efforts to consolidate its ties with Rabat after recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara conflict.

Accompanied by about a dozen ministers, Lecornu’s visit confirms France’s efforts to re-establish its most important cooperation in North Africa as the international competition is intensifying.

The high-level meetings, related to security, defense, economic and financial cooperation, come after a very difficult period in the current Franco-Moroccan relationship. Between 2021 and 2023, disputes over the visa ban, the judicial agreement, intelligence sharing and France’s long-standing misunderstanding in Western Sahara disrupted the agreement that was one of the closest of Paris to the Arab world.

This changed in 2024, when President Emmanuel Macron recognized Moroccan sovereignty in the Western Sahara, an area in which Morocco opposes the Polisario Front with the support of Algeria, ending years of misunderstanding in France and opening the way for communication between the two countries.

Ouissal Marsaoui, a researcher on international relations, told Al Jazeera that the two-day mission should be seen as the first step in translating the political idea into a practical agreement instead of being stuck.

He added that the visit represents a major reorientation of French policy as Paris looks for credible candidates in the region as its political and economic influence in North Africa and the Sahel grows.

“It is natural in international relations for countries to reestablish themselves when their traditional ties weaken and new areas of influence emerge.”

Why is Morocco important?

Over the past decade, Rabat has acted as an important bridge between Europe and Africa through the development of trade links, major infrastructure projects, the sale of renewable energy and a permanent diplomatic presence in West Africa and the Sahel. The development of the port of Tanger Med into one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, together with industrial investment and transport corridors, has strengthened Morocco’s position as a gateway for European companies seeking access to African markets. Political stability and the development of security capabilities have also fueled his interest.

For Paris, rebuilding a relationship is not just about repairing an old relationship. While China, Turkey, the Gulf countries and the United States are expanding their political and economic presence throughout Africa, France is focusing on Morocco as a stable partner that can connect the Mediterranean and the continent.

Ahlam Qafas, a professor of economics at ENCG Kenitra, told Al Jazeera that Morocco’s emergence as one of the leading destinations in the Mediterranean has added another dimension to the relationship. Large ports, transport corridors and industrial zones have made the country an attractive entry point for European companies looking to do business in Africa.

For France, economic integration offers an opportunity to regain the commercial space that has been lost elsewhere on the continent. For Morocco, it offers opportunities not only for investment, but also for technology in sectors expected to drive future growth, including artificial intelligence, big data and advanced manufacturing.

Qafas said the opportunity continues to attract foreign investment.

“The real value of this agreement lies in Morocco’s ability to rise to the value chain by strengthening cooperation in the fields of intelligence such as artificial intelligence, big data and advanced industrial technology, helping to promote a competitive and sustainable future economy.”

Strategic convergence

The recovery is already visible in the areas that both governments have chosen to prioritize, from defense and strategic cooperation to finance, transportation, energy and technology.

For France, a close relationship with Morocco helps strengthen its position in North Africa at a time when relations with Algeria are still strained and its influence in the Sahel region has declined due to several military-led governments and diplomatic obstacles. Security cooperation is also central, particularly in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, industrial cooperation in security and migration.

In Morocco, France’s recovery could accelerate investment in sectors that are among its long-standing economic goals, including infrastructure, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, defense industries and digital technologies.

Marsaoui said that the expansion of cooperation on defense and security following France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty in Western Sahara also gives strength to the changes in the Paris policy.

“The opening of security and military files linked to the Sahara strengthens the recognition of France in public institutions, and turns what could have been seen as the choice of President Macron into a permanent solution.”

Nouh El Harmouzi, the founder of the Arab Center for Scientific Research and Humane Studies, said that Lecornu’s visit is less about the agreements he can make than what shows that Franco-Moroccan relations are over.

He said the partnership reflects a major change in which political trust is being translated into long-term cooperation between security, trade and regional security.

Whether the diplomatic reform will be a lasting agreement will depend on how both governments transform the political alliance into a sustainable alliance on security, finance and regional security.

As El Harmouzi told Al Jazeera: “This is no longer a relationship driven mainly by history or political exchanges. It shows a gradual shift to a partnership based on mutual trust, where both countries see each other as important in solving long-term problems.”