Rabat-Paris: The Strengthened Exceptional Partnership Solidifies

A first this Saturday, February 22nd! The Paris International Agriculture Show (SIA) waited until its 61st edition to welcome a guest country of honor. 

And it is the Kingdom of Morocco that received this honor. Yet another demonstration, if needed, of the exceptional nature of the Morocco-France relationship, which saw a major shift following the state visit—at the invitation of the Sovereign in October 2024—by French President Emmanuel Macron. 

In remarks to the press, Macron seized the occasion to express being “very pleased and very proud” to welcome the Kingdom as the SIA’s guest of honor, while emphasizing: “This is a great pride for our Agriculture Show and our farmers as well, to have this very strong partnership.” Indeed, this marks another milestone contributing to the consolidation of bilateral ties between Rabat and Paris. 

The Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, underscored this during the official inauguration of the Kingdom’s pavilion: “We are delighted that Morocco is the guest of honor for this edition. This crowns a comprehensive effort of strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and France, thanks to the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the commitment of French President Emmanuel Macron.” 

A new chapter being written…

The Head of the Executive also highlighted that this reflects both the “deep friendship” binding Morocco and France and the “importance of agriculture and the solidarity of our farmers.” 

On the same day, during a meeting at Matignon with the Head of Government, French Prime Minister François Bayrou echoed this sentiment, stressing the exceptional quality of bilateral relations, which saw an “exceptional leap” following Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the Kingdom. 

For Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, who spoke after discussions with the Head of Government, “this invitation (Editor’s note: Morocco as guest of honor) follows the visit of the President of the Republic last autumn to Morocco, which opened a new chapter, a new book in the relationship between Morocco and France.” 

The French Foreign Minister added that this visit “has enabled the expansion of cooperation pathways between our two countries, starting with agricultural collaboration and exchanges, as both sides of the Mediterranean seek to create conditions for our agricultural and food sovereignty and independence. This is why we have so much to gain by working together.” 

To further underscore the exceptional nature of Rabat-Paris ties, France will be the guest of honor at the International Agriculture Show in Morocco (SIAM) in Meknès this April. The momentum continues. 

From February 23rd to 26th, the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, leading a high-level delegation, visited Morocco at the invitation of the President of the House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid. During his visit, he traveled to Rabat and Laâyoune. 

Larcher in Laâyoune: Highlighting Paris’s New Position

In the capital on Monday, February 24th, Gérard Larcher was received by Aziz Akhannouch. Emphasizing the significance of this visit, a statement from the Head of Government’s office noted that the meeting was an opportunity to “applaud France’s position supporting the Moroccan identity of the Sahara,” while recalling the French President’s visit to Morocco, which “laid the groundwork to elevate the partnership between the two countries to the level of a Strengthened Exceptional Partnership.” 

Akhannouch affirmed that “this new dynamic in the Morocco-France partnership, driven by both heads of state, has provided decisive momentum to the multidimensional relations between the two countries, mobilizing various sectors to promote cooperation at the bilateral, regional, and international levels,” the source added. 

While this working visit aims to strengthen interparliamentary partnership, it also carries symbolic weight. By traveling to Laâyoune on Monday evening, Gérard Larcher—who stressed in his post-meeting remarks that “France’s policy is not that of a government but of the French Republic”—sought to highlight that this visit reflects “France’s new position, which holds that the present and future of the Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.” 

This visit is particularly significant as it follows shortly after the trip by French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati to the southern provinces of the Kingdom. 

Moreover, given its multidimensional nature, it is worth noting that in a few weeks, Morocco will be the guest of honor at another major event: the International Book Festival. Yet another milestone reinforcing the “Strengthened Exceptional Partnership.” 

Culture as well…

Last week, French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati became the first French government official to visit the southern provinces.

A visit, Rachida Dati stated, that aligns with “the continuity of the Strengthened Exceptional Partnership between Morocco and France” and within the framework of “the new book that the two countries will write together.” On the set of the second television channel, Dati emphasized that this was a historic visit, as it marked the first time a Western minister had traveled to this region of Morocco.

“This is a significant moment, as it is not just a new page in bilateral relations, but rather a new book that France and Morocco will write together.”

It is also worth noting that during this trip, the establishment of a branch of the Alliance Française in Laâyoune was announced.