France’s Morocco reset: What French PM Lecornu’s visit to Rabat signals

Author: aljazeera.comPublished on: July 16, 2026Country: Morocco

PoliticsWorld / International

France’s Morocco reset: What French PM Lecornu’s visit to Rabat signals

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu made his first official foreign visit to Morocco on July 15-16, 2026, accompanied by about a dozen ministers. The trip consolidates the diplomatic reset after France recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2024. Talks covered defense, security, economic cooperation and investment, ending a difficult period from 2021 to 2023 marked by disputes over visas, judicial cooperation and intelligence. Researcher Ouissal Marsaoui said the visit reflects a broader recalibration of French policy as Paris seeks reliable partners amid geopolitical pressures in North Africa and the Sahel.

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