UK Diplomat: Post-Brexit Relations with Morocco Set to Strengthen as Gateway to Africa

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, on the theme "Britain, the European Union and a Changing World Order", this career diplomat emphasized the presence of the Kingdom in the foreign policy of the United Kingdom, after Brexit.

During his presentation, Lord Peter Ricketts stressed the importance for his country of developing relations with the African continent, which has several assets.

According to MAP, the speaker highlighted the quality of the diplomatic relations that have linked Morocco and the United Kingdom for 800 years. To this end, he recalled the visit last February to the Kingdom of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, as well as the holding on Tuesday, September 17, in Rabat, of the Morocco-Great Britain strategic dialogue.

In addition, the speaker appreciated the climate of stability in Morocco, as well as the development the Kingdom is experiencing, particularly in the economic, industrial and infrastructure sectors.

He also mentioned the factors that led the majority of Britons to vote in favor of Brexit, citing, among others, the repercussions of globalization, the 2009 economic crisis and the austerity policy that followed, as well as the migratory pressure exerted by citizens of Eastern Europe.

Despite all these repercussions of Brexit, Lord Peter Ricketts expressed confidence that the United Kingdom has several assets to meet the challenges, citing, in this regard, stability, the judicial system, diplomacy, culture and language.

The conference was held in a context of lively debate in Great Britain about its future relations with the European Union, according to the organizers, the same source specifies.