France Reaffirms ’Exceptional Partnership’ with Morocco, Seeks to Strengthen Ties

François Delmas reassures about the relations between Paris and Rabat. "The work and contacts continue naturally between the Moroccan authorities and the French authorities," said the spokesman for the Quai d’Orsay, stating that his country maintains "an exceptional bilateral partnership" with the kingdom.

"The President of the Republic as well as the Minister (Catherine Colonna, head of Paris diplomacy, editor’s note) have recalled their willingness to move forward with Morocco," said François Delmas, who adds that "the work and contacts continue naturally between the Moroccan authorities and the French authorities".

But beyond the discourse, the current state of relations between Morocco and France, marked by various tensions linked in particular to the Sahara and visas, is far from the "exceptional bilateral partnership" mentioned by the spokesman for the Quai d’Orsay.

The relations between France and Morocco "are neither friendly nor good, neither between the two governments nor between the Royal Palace and the Élysée," reacted a Moroccan official source at the beginning of March, in response to the remarks of President Emmanuel Macron who described his relations with Morocco as "friendly" and "good" during a press conference on February 27, 2023 at the Élysée.