French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s visit to Morocco marks a significant step in rebuilding bilateral relations between the two countries. It comes after France recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024. During the trip, both sides will discuss cooperation in defense, intelligence, investment, infrastructure, and advanced technologies as France seeks reliable regional partners amid declining influence across North Africa and the Sahel. The trip, Lecornu’s first official foreign visit as prime minister, demonstrates Paris’s strong political backing for Morocco and provides access to greater foreign investment and technology that could accelerate its economic ambitions. In contrast, Algeria, whose rivalry with Morocco over Western Sahara remains unresolved, stands to lose relative influence in Paris’s regional calculus. For France, a stronger relationship with Morocco will strengthen its strategic foothold in a region where competition from China, Türkiye, Gulf states, and the United States is intensifying.
Al Jazeera