French PM Lecornu Seeks Deeper Ties, Energy Cooperation on Morocco Visit
The two countries also agreed to expand energy cooperation, including a project to study renewable electricity exports from Morocco to France.
- On Thursday, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu visited Morocco to strengthen a renewed partnership flourishing over two years, signing an 'enhanced exceptional partnership' agreement and hailing 'exceptionally positive' ties in Rabat.
- Years of tension over visa disputes and espionage allegations preceded the diplomatic shift after President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco's Western Sahara sovereignty claim in 2024, resetting bilateral relations.
- Lecornu characterized the partnership as a 'turning point' emphasizing security cooperation, while Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch said ties rested on 'a shared strategic vision, restored trust and common ambition' with energy initiatives linking North Africa to Europe.
- A media consortium led by Forbidden Stories published reports Thursday alleging Morocco used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target French officials including Lecornu, prompting him and Akhannouch to offer only brief remarks instead of a full press conference.
- Allegations of Moroccan Pegasus spyware use dating to 2021 persist despite Morocco's firm rejection and demand for evidence; the spyware can covertly read messages, geolocate targets, and secretly activate device cameras and microphones.
16 Articles
16 Articles
While the "high-level meetings" have been a classic of the Franco-Moroccan relationship for almost thirty years, the one held on July 16 allowed the two heads of government to display a common ambition. And to erase the cold period that the two capitals have passed through.
French PM Lecornu seeks deeper ties, energy cooperation on Morocco visit
France and Morocco moved on Thursday to strengthen a renewed partnership that has flourished over the past two years, with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu hailing their "exceptionally positive" ties in Rabat.
Radio France Internationale
coastaltvnews.comFrench PM pledges deeper ties on Morocco visit
But the high-level visit came as a media consortium published fresh reports that Morocco used the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target French officials when tensions were high between the nations, after allegations first emerged in 2021. During his visit, Lecornu praised the diplomatic advances Paris and Rabat achieved since President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco's sovereignty claim over the disputed Western Sahara in 2024. Lecornu described…
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