Rabat and Paris are on the verge of signing a strategic friendship treaty in 2026, following months of delays from the date announced by French President Emmanuel Macron during his official visit to Morocco in October 2024.
The anticipated treaty may coincide with a state visit by King Mohammed VI to the French capital, a move reflecting a political will to restructure the relations between the two countries on a more stable and forward-looking basis.
According to Africa Intelligence, a joint committee has been formed, comprising twelve prominent figures from both sides, tasked with outlining the strategic visions for Moroccan-French relations over the next three decades. This new framework draws inspiration from notable European experiences, such as the Élysée Treaty between France and Germany and the Quirinal Treaty between France and Italy, ensuring that the bilateral partnership is safeguarded from temporary political fluctuations.
On the Moroccan side, the committee includes significant names such as Mostafa Terrab, CEO of OCP Group, Chakib Benmoussa, the High Commissioner for Planning and former ambassador to Paris, and Monia Boucetta, ambassador and secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
From the French side, participants are expected to include Jean-Louis Giugue, head of the Mediterranean Institute of Economic Forecasting, Élisabeth Guigou, former Minister of Justice, and former Foreign Minister Hubert Védrine, who will all contribute to outlining what is described as an “enhanced exceptional partnership.”
The concept of this strategic framework was officially introduced during Macron’s address to the Moroccan parliament in October 2024, where he called for the establishment of a new institutional partnership between the two countries, which can be signed seventy years after the San Clou Agreement of 1955. He noted that Morocco would be the first country outside the European Union with which France would engage at this level of commitment.
At that time, the French president also announced the establishment of a joint follow-up committee responsible for presenting practical proposals to realize this project, aiming to build a long-term relationship that is legally structured and politically fortified, reflecting the depth of historical ties and aspiring for a strategic horizon.
