RABAT, Morocco: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Morocco on Monday to meet with King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch in a three-day visit aimed at strengthening Franco-Moroccan ties.
Macron’s visit follows France’s shift to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, distancing itself from Algeria, which advocates for a UN-supervised referendum on the territory’s future. Morocco welcomed the change, seeing it as a diplomatic boost to its Western Sahara stance.
The visit will focus on trade, climate change, and migration. France is Morocco’s top trading partner, with substantial French investments in Morocco’s energy infrastructure and agriculture. Morocco, in turn, exports goods like tomatoes, cars, and airplane parts to France. Immigration will also be a key topic, as Moroccans form one of the largest foreign-born communities in France, making North African migration a central issue in French domestic politics.
Macron and King Mohammed VI have previously collaborated on major projects like Africa’s first high-speed rail line, Al Boraq. The visit is seen as a step toward mending past diplomatic strains, including disagreements over visas and the alleged use of spyware on French officials.
