France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, made his first official trip abroad since taking office by choosing Rabat on July 15-16, 2026. The strategic significance of this visit was immediately apparent, signaling a deliberate effort to rebuild and revitalize a relationship that had experienced years of strain.
The highlight of the two-day visit was the co-chairing of the 15th High-Level Meeting between France and Morocco alongside Morocco’s Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch. This bilateral summit marked the resumption of institutional dialogue after a seven-year hiatus, with no such meeting held since 2019.
A delegation of twelve ministers accompanies the French Prime Minister
Sébastien Lecornu did not arrive alone. His delegation included twelve French ministers, underscoring the importance Paris places on this diplomatic engagement. Among the key figures present were Laurent Nuñez, Minister of the Interior, and Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Lecornu himself took to social media platform X to emphasize the historic nature of the visit, calling it a landmark moment in Franco-Moroccan relations.
Landmark friendship treaty in the pipeline
Beyond symbolic gestures, the visit resulted in the signing of several cooperation agreements between the two nations. However, details of these accords remain undisclosed for now. The most significant announcement was the planned negotiation of an unprecedented friendship treaty between France and Morocco, described as “exceptional” in scope. This treaty is expected to be formally ratified during a future state visit by King Mohammed VI to France, though no date has been set for the Moroccan monarch’s arrival.
A royal welcome and ceremonial tributes
King Mohammed VI hosted an official luncheon for the French delegation on July 16, a gesture of high diplomatic protocol. Following the meal, Lecornu and his team paid their respects at the royal mausoleum, laying wreaths at the tombs of Morocco’s former monarchs, Mohammed V and Hassan II. This act of homage is customary for heads of state visiting Morocco on official business.
In a statement to Moroccan media outlet Medi1TV, Lecornu described the visit as “a pivotal moment in the relationship between Rabat and Paris“.
Diplomatic thaw since 2024
For observers, this visit is the latest chapter in a gradual thaw that began in 2024, following years of tension between the two capitals. Disputes over the Western Sahara and consular matters had previously strained relations. The resumption of high-level dialogue serves as a litmus test for the durability of this renewed partnership.
Morocco remains one of France’s most critical economic and diplomatic allies in Africa, with a significant Franco-Moroccan community in both nations. The successful revival of this institutional dialogue sets the stage for further cooperation, with the eagerly anticipated state visit of King Mohammed VI to France still pending.
