Moroccan foreign minister visits Paris as bilateral ties deepen

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita travelled to Paris Monday for high-level talks with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, as the two countries continue to expand their strategic partnership, according to Moroccan media reports. The visit builds on an October 2024 declaration signed by King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron in Rabat, which set out a roadmap for deepening cooperation across diplomacy, security, and economic development.

France’s recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and Morocco’s elevated presence at events like the Paris Book Festival have marked a reset in bilateral relations.

Bourita’s visit follows that of French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to Rabat, where both sides agreed to create a joint working group on migrant readmissions. 

The flurry of diplomacy comes amid warming ties between Rabat and Paris, even as France’s relationship with Algeria cools. Both governments now appear committed to building what they call an “Enhanced Exceptional Partnership.”