During President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Morocco, he and King Mohammed VI announced a series of agreements at the Royal Palace aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between their nations.
Valued at approximately €10 billion, the agreements encompass investment, energy, and infrastructure initiatives. Among the highlights, French rail manufacturer Alstom will provide Morocco with up to 18 high-speed train cars. Additionally, the Moroccan Phosphates Office and energy firm Engie have entered into a deal with potential investments totaling €3.5 billion.
Macron is scheduled to address the parliament on Tuesday. His visit, invited by the king, follows a significant shift in France’s position regarding Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara. Macron referred to this plan as “the only basis for achieving a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution” to the longstanding conflict.
This development marks a welcome change for Rabat after years of tension between the two countries. The Western Sahara has been a contested territory for nearly five decades, primarily controlled by Morocco, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front also claims sovereignty over the region. The United Nations designates Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, which complicates Morocco’s claims of sovereignty.
