King Mohammed VI soon on a State visit to France

Envisaged for several years, the State visit of the King of Morocco to France should take place in the fall of 2026. This trip would mark the first official visit of Mohammed VI to Paris since May 2012. According to Le Monde, this return to the summit of diplomacy follows a "long remontada" initiated in 2023 after three years of estrangement.

On Bladi.net: King Mohammed VI soon in France

To frame this event, an "elders’ committee" of eleven members is working on the drafting of a bilateral treaty. The French side is supervised by former Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine, commissioned in September 2025. On the Moroccan side, the group is coordinated by Chakib Benmoussa, High Commissioner for Planning. A first version of the text is to be submitted next May.

This eclectic panel brings together personalities such as Florence Parly, Sarah El Haïry or the novelist Leïla Slimani. This informal working group first met in Rabat last March. Le Monde specifies that the members are working on a voluntary basis, using the rooms of the Élysée and the Quai d’Orsay for their exchanges.

The future treaty plans several strategic components covering the economy, diplomacy, culture and university cooperation. It could also integrate issues related to civil society and migration challenges. The objective is to formalize the "new strategic framework" proposed by Emmanuel Macron, aiming to make Morocco the first non-European Union partner of France.

One central point remains under debate: the mention of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in the final text. While Paris aligned itself with the Moroccan position in July 2024, the inclusion of this principle in the treaty is a strong demand from Rabat. This orientation could also deter Algeria from engaging in a similar approach with France, given the regional tensions.

On Bladi.net: The French ambassador to Morocco leaves Rabat for a highly strategic position

In parallel to this treaty, the "high-level meeting" between the heads of government will resume in May 2026 after a seven-year interruption. This schedule is adapted to the electoral constraints of the two countries, with legislative elections scheduled for September in Morocco. A diplomatic source stresses that the restoration of this annual dialogue is a key indicator of the "regained trust" between the two partners.