Morocco obtains the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner with ASEAN

On Tuesday 18 July, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a press release that the country had received agreement in principle to obtain the status of Sectoral Dialogue Partner from ASEAN. The decision was taken at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held on 11 and 12 July in Jakarta, Indonesia.  

Morocco is the first African country to be granted this status. Through this partnership, Rabat aims to raise its cooperation with ASEAN member countries to a higher level, in order to contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity in both regions. One of the main security issues raised at the meeting on 11 and 12 July was that of the East Sea (China's East Sea and Korea's South Sea). According to the Courrier du Vietnam, the ministers expressed concern about land reclamation activities and serious incidents in the region, which are contributing to eroding confidence and increasing tensions. 

The sectoral dialogue partnership defines the foundations and prospects for multifaceted cooperation between ASEAN and Morocco in sectors identified by both parties. In February 2018, Morocco proposed a cooperation action plan targeting area of cooperation of common interest likely to contribute to ASEAN's vision for 2025. The plan was updated in February 2023 to take account of the latest developments, particularly in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Rabat has expressed its willingness to share its experience and expertise with other ASEAN members in areas where the Kingdom's reputation is known internationally, such as agriculture, food safety, fisheries, marine pollution control, trade, investment promotion, tourism and education.  

These areas of cooperation are all the more essential given that a large majority of ASEAN member states are experiencing fragile political stabilisation, some of which is even alarming, according to an Asialyst map. South-East Asia is also experiencing major episodes of maritime piracy and terrorism. 

According to the press release, this partnership “represents an opportunity for substantial cooperation based on a win-win approach which is at the heart of the South-South cooperation policy advocated by Morocco”. This rapprochement is in line with the King of Morocco's strategy of diversifying the Kingdom's partnerships, particularly in Asia.

Created in 1967, ASEAN comprises ten countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. ASEAN is a political, economic and cultural organisation, originally conceived to counter the Communist threat against the backdrop of the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Today, ASEAN is Asia's third-largest economic power. It has drawn inspiration from the United Nations in formulating its principles of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity. This attachment to the principle of sovereignty makes security cooperation within the organisation a delicate matter, with the exception of the East China Sea and Timor-Leste.

Since 2016, Morocco has been a member of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (TAC), which was signed in Bali in February 1976 by the founding members of ASEAN. Since then, Rabat has strengthened its presence in other regional bodies in Southeast Asia, particularly those institutionally linked to ASEAN such as the Mekong River Commission (MRC). 

This agreement between ASEAN and Morocco marks an important milestone for the Arab state, strengthening cooperation between the regions and opening up new avenues for economic, social and cultural exchanges.