France, Morocco making progress in implementing ‘ambitious’ joint roadmap – Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson

France and Morocco are making progress in implementing their “ambitious” joint roadmap, deputy spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Talks between the French Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné, and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, which took place in Paris on Tuesday, have “enabled us to make further progress in implementing the political agenda and the ambitious joint roadmap that we now share with Morocco,” said the deputy spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay, at a press briefing.

This roadmap “covers everything from major investments in the future to security aspects, cultural exchanges, and global issues,” he added.

“The momentum ushered by my recent visit to Morocco is continuing today with a working session with my counterpart, Nasser Bourita. Relations between France and Morocco are unique,” Séjourné wrote on his X account following his talks with Bourita.

Séjourné had visited Morocco at the end of February, as part of the firm determination of King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron to boost the bilateral strategic partnership on strong bases, capitalizing on the solid historical and human foundations on which these relations are built, while taking advantage of the achievements recorded within the framework of this partnership over the decades.

Bourita’s visit to Paris took place against the backdrop of improving ties between the two countries as France tilts gradually closer to making a clear-cut stand in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.

France, as reiterated by Séjourné during his trip to Rabat, has always backed the autonomy plan for Morocco’s Sahara. Yet, it fell short of adopting a stand similar to that of the US and many African and Arab countries that outrightly back Rabat’s sovereignty over the territory.

Séjourné had also said that France was willing to support Morocco’s investment effort in the Sahara, a statement that insinuates support for Morocco’s position.

Echoing him, French minister in charge of foreign trade, Franck Riester, who visited the Kingdom recently said his country “welcomes” and is “ready” to finance Morocco’s investments in the Sahara.

Proparco, an offshoot of French development agency backing the private sector, “would contribute to finance a high voltage link between Dakhla and Casablanca, a strategic project for the Kingdom,” Riester said.

Analysts see the series of French messages as reflective of a stand in the making in support of Morocco on the Sahara.