France and Morocco strengthen ties with historic agreements

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu (left) and Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat, Morocco, July 16, 2026

After years of strained relations, France and Morocco have demonstrated a clear thaw in diplomatic ties during a high-profile visit by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to Rabat. The two nations reaffirmed their commitment to a “recovered trust” agenda, marked by a series of agreements and cooperative frameworks.

Lecornu concluded his visit by highlighting a “remarkably positive” outcome in bilateral relations, which have significantly improved since French President Emmanuel Macron formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara in the summer of 2024—a move that strained relations with Algeria.

Macron’s subsequent state visit to Rabat in October 2024 further solidified the détente, ending a three-year period of friction exacerbated by espionage allegations and visa restrictions. The visit culminated in substantial contracts and the signing of an “exceptional strengthened partnership.”

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu (left) and Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch embracing after a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat, Morocco, July 16, 2026

A shadow over the improved relations emerged as an international media consortium published fresh investigations into Morocco’s alleged use of the Pegasus spyware system. Rabat swiftly dismissed these claims as “false and baseless.”

The press conference originally planned by Lecornu and Akhannouch was scaled back to a brief statement, excluding a Q&A session.

Historic partnership framework

When questioned about the spyware allegations, neither the French Prime Minister’s entourage nor the Quai d’Orsay commented. Within the French delegation, these issues were dismissed as outdated concerns.

“Our goal is to strengthen the framework of cooperation and trust with Morocco,” a representative from the French presidency stated.

The Moroccan King also marked the 14th of July national holiday by praising the “consolidation” of the two countries’ “privileged relationship.”

This partnership could lead to a historic visit by the Moroccan monarch to France and the signing of an unprecedented treaty—the first such agreement France has concluded with a non-European Union nation, according to Lecornu. While no date has been set, the potential visit underscores the depth of the new alliance.

Lecornu was accompanied by twelve French ministers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, for the fifteenth “high-level meeting” between the two delegations—a dialogue that had not convened since 2019.

The Prime Minister described the gathering as a “turning point,” emphasizing the need to “scale up” bilateral cooperation in areas such as security and counterterrorism.

Addressing visa policies that had caused tensions in 2021 and 2022—when France halved the number of visas issued to Moroccans—Lecornu announced Paris’s intention to simplify “circular mobility” between the two countries, particularly for entrepreneurs and students.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu delivering opening remarks at a plenary session with Moroccan ministers in Rabat, Morocco, July 16, 2026

Counterterrorism and Sahel security cooperation

Lecornu praised the “excellent cooperation” between French and Moroccan security services, which has recently yielded “unprecedented operational successes” in combating organized crime and drug trafficking.

He underscored the “central importance of the African continent,” where both nations face jihadist threats in the Sahel, and stressed the need to “deploy together more effectively.”

Aziz Akhannouch hailed the partnership as one “rooted in a shared strategic vision, built on mutual political trust and common ambition.”

Morocco has emerged as a priority for France’s Maghreb diplomacy, with Paris no longer prioritizing a balanced approach with Algeria.

On the Sahel security front, France appears to be shifting its reliance toward Morocco, as Algeria remains reticent to share intelligence, despite the resumption of Franco-Algerian cooperation.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu (center) arriving at the Royal Mausoleum in Rabat with his delegation, Morocco, July 16, 2026

A dozen agreements were signed during the meetings, including a call for expressions of interest in cross-border electricity interconnection and loan agreements between Rabat and the French Development Agency for water projects and a new Rabat regional express rail line.