French prime minister begins diplomatic tour in Morocco

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu lands in Morocco for landmark visit

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu touched down in Morocco today, accompanied by over a dozen cabinet members including Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The high-profile delegation is set to engage in intensive discussions with Moroccan officials, marking the first intergovernmental meeting of this scale between the two nations since 2019.

Following an initial diplomatic engagement in Qatar, this visit represents Lecornu’s inaugural foreign mission since assuming the premiership. The agenda includes multiple working sessions aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.

Strengthening economic and security ties

Relations between France and Morocco have seen significant improvement since mid-2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron formally endorsed Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara—a decision that strained diplomatic relations with neighboring Algeria.

On the security front, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez is scheduled to meet his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, to discuss enhanced judicial cooperation. A major topic of discussion will be the potential extradition of Ismaël Benahmed, a French-Moroccan national wanted in connection with a 2019 murder investigation in Paris.

Focus on bilateral cooperation and future engagements

The visit underscores France’s commitment to reinforcing strategic partnerships with Morocco, with both sides expected to explore new avenues for collaboration in trade, security, and regional stability. The high-level talks are poised to set the tone for future diplomatic engagements between the two countries.