A historic meeting was held this Monday, October 28, 2024 at the Royal Palace in Rabat between King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron, marking a decisive turning point in Franco-Moroccan relations.
Discussions between the two heads of state resulted in the announcement of a “renewed exceptional partnership”accompanied by a strategic roadmap for the years to come. This state visit, which takes place from October 28 to 30, marks the start of a “new era of strong relations between Morocco and France”according to the press release from the Royal Cabinet.
During these interviews, the two leaders discussed several major areas of cooperationnotably the Euro-Mediterranean, African and Atlantic dimension. “The two Heads of State agreed to work together to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean projection”specifies the press release, underlining their common commitment to human and sustainable development.
The situation in the Middle East was also at the heart of the discussions. Emmanuel Macron particularly welcomed the constructive role of King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as President of the Al-Quds Committeein the search for peace. Both leaders called for an immediate end to attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, emphasizing:
- Priority protection of civilian populations
- Guarantee of sufficient humanitarian aid
- The need to avoid a regional conflagration
- Support for the two-state solution
Highlight of this meeting, the French President officially invited the Moroccan Sovereign for a state visit to Francean invitation that King Mohammed VI accepted. The precise date of this visit will be determined through diplomatic channels.
This meeting is part of a common desire to strengthen the historical ties between the two nations. The two leaders particularly emphasized “the importance of renewing, in depth, the partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean, to build a more stable, sustainable and prosperous future for the entire region”.