In January, Emmanuel Macron will visit Morocco. What topics will he discuss with King Mohammed VI?
Has France neglected its relations with Morocco? By going to Algeria at the end of August to meet his counterpart there, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, confirmed the start of the honeymoon between Paris and Algiers, but also that he was cold with Rabat. It must be said that since the announcement by Donald Trump of the signing of the Abraham Accords by Morocco, Paris has struggled to position itself. “France is both legalistic and supportive of Morocco on the Sahara at the UN, but it does not want to get angry with Algeria. The equation is therefore impossible", sums up French historian Pierre Vermeren.
When he visited Algeria in August, Emmanuel Macron, who wanted a visit based on entrepreneurship and culture, finally concluded his trip with a very promising joint declaration. But on his return to France, the head of state was quickly overtaken by reality: to young Moroccans who asked him the question, Emmanuel Macron had assured that he would go to Rabat at the end of October. It is clear, a month after his supposed visit, that the trip was not easy to organize.
Balancing on Western Sahara
Macron's announcement was improvised and not concerted with the royal palace, according to Moroccan sources. It was therefore necessary, for the French president, to take the time to renew the dialogue with the King of Morocco. Omnipresent in France, at the bedside of his mother, Mohammed VI no longer had any contact with Emmanuel Macron. But the two men finally, less than a month ago, discussed for about thirty minutes on the phone. It was then that the idea of an official trip by Emmanuel Macron to Rabat was stopped.
This trip should take place at the beginning of the year, according to Africa Intelligence. But as for his stay in Algeria, Emmanuel Macron wants everything to be settled upstream and will therefore send his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, to Morocco in December. The latter will settle the details of the Macron-Mohammed VI meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
It should be about the 50% drop in the number of visas granted to Moroccans, economic relations between Paris and Rabat or evencut corners after the Pegasus affair. Beyond these subjects, Rabat will undoubtedly insist that Paris position itself on the Western Sahara file. However, it is difficult to imagine Macron taking a stand for Rabat after the resumption of relations between France and Algeria.