Warming relations – The French prime minister outlines plans for a partnership that could lead to a royal visit to France and the signing of a groundbreaking ‘friendship treaty’

Diplomatic ties between France and Morocco have warmed significantly in recent years, as evidenced by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s official visit to Rabat. The visit may pave the way for a state visit by King Mohammed VI to Paris and the signing of an unprecedented ‘friendship treaty,’ though no timeline has been set.

Franco-Moroccan relations have flourished since the French head of state formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory in the summer of 2024, a move that drew sharp criticism from Algiers.

Strengthened partnership despite Pegasus controversy

Emmanuel Macron received a lavish welcome in Rabat in October of the same year, marking the end of three years of strained relations fueled partly by espionage allegations and visa restrictions. The visit culminated in the signing of an ‘exceptional strengthened partnership’ and multiple high-value contracts.

On Thursday, an international media consortium published fresh investigations into the alleged scale of Morocco’s use of the Pegasus spyware, including reports that France was considering its acquisition. In 2021, Morocco faced accusations of deploying the Israeli-made spyware to infiltrate the phones of numerous national and international figures, including the French president and then-minister Sébastien Lecornu, according to the same consortium. Rabat has consistently denied all allegations.