Morocco and France Strengthen Strategic Defense Ties in Rabat
Under the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), Abdeltif Loudyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government responsible for National Defense Administration, welcomed France’s Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, Catherine Vautrin, in Rabat on Thursday. The meeting took place alongside the Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone.
Minister Vautrin arrived as part of a high-profile French delegation led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, visiting Morocco for the 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting. The visit aims to bolster and diversify bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
During the discussions, both delegations signed a technical arrangement and a memorandum focused on bilateral defense industry cooperation, as confirmed by the National Defense Administration’s official statement. The two sides also explored avenues to enhance and expand military cooperation between Morocco and France.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment to solidify these ties by implementing the legal instruments agreed upon during the 15th High-Level Session. A total of 22 Moroccan and French ministers participated in the session, co-chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu. The session concluded with the signing of eleven cooperation agreements spanning diverse fields, including the development of a Rabat Regional Express Rail (RER) network, water resources, and decentralization initiatives.
The 15th Morocco-France High-Level Meeting unfolds against a backdrop of exceptional partnership and strengthened political ties. It reflects a significant evolution in France’s stance, marked by its official support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces, including the Sahara.
