Britain and Morocco underscored the deepening of their strategic partnership during talks this week between UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who is on an official visit to London, as both sides pointed to growing cooperation in security, trade and regional stability.
Speaking after the meeting, Lammy highlighted the progress made since the launch of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries, agreed during the Morocco‑UK Strategic Dialogue held in Rabat on June 1, 2025.
One year on from the signing of our strategic partnership, we continue to work closely together in support of growth and security, Lammy said, noting that the dialogue had placed bilateral cooperation on a new trajectory.
The partnership aims to harness opportunities across a range of sectors, building on diplomatic relations that stretch back more than 800 years, described by Lammy as “one of the oldest continuous diplomatic relationships in the world.”
Both sides said the integrated approach seeks to establish long‑term, high‑value cooperation structured around shared strategic priorities, while also contributing to regional stability in North Africa and beyond.
During the visit, the British government also reiterated its position on the Moroccan Sahara, reaffirming its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for resolving the dispute.
That position, first announced following the June 2025 Strategic Dialogue in Rabat, places the autonomy initiative within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty and calls on all parties to engage constructively in the UN‑led political process.
London has said it will continue to act in line with this position at bilateral, regional and international levels, in support of a lasting resolution to the conflict.
The UK’s position has coincided with expanding economic ties between the two countries. Trade and investment cooperation has grown steadily in recent years, with British firms increasingly active in Moroccan infrastructure, energy, health and education projects.
The relationship between the two countries is rooted in a long historical alliance dating back centuries. Britain and Morocco formalised their ties through a series of treaties, including the 1895 Anglo‑Moroccan Agreement, which historically recognised Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces prior to the colonial period.
Lammy, as well as British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in earlier statements, has described the partnership with Morocco as “a source of great value for the peoples of both countries,” citing cooperation opportunities linked to major joint initiatives such as preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co‑host.
