During a state visit to Morocco, President Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI signed agreements valued at approximately €10 billion aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. The deals, formalized at the Royal Palace, encompass investment, energy, and infrastructure initiatives.
Among the agreements, French rail manufacturer Alstom will provide up to 18 high-speed train cars to Morocco. Additionally, the Moroccan Phosphates Office and the energy company Engie have reached a deal that could lead to investments of up to €3.5 billion, according to reports from AFP.
Macron is scheduled to address parliament on Tuesday. This visit, prompted by the king’s invitation, follows a significant shift in France’s policy regarding Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara. Macron described the plan as “the only basis for achieving a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution.”
The change in stance has been positively received in Rabat after years of tense relations. The Western Sahara has been a contentious issue between Morocco and Algeria for nearly five decades. While Morocco largely controls the territory, the Algeria-backed Polisario Front also claims it. The United Nations classifies Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, asserting that Morocco cannot claim sovereignty over it.
