Saudi Arabia reaffirms the strength of its diplomatic ties with Morocco

King Mohammed VI of Morocco received a message of brotherhood and appreciation from Saudi Arabian leaders, underscoring the deep ties between the two nations.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, King Mohammed VI met with Saudi Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Palace in Casablanca.

During the meeting, Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz conveyed a verbal message from King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, expressing greetings and reaffirming the strength of the fraternal relations between the two nations and ways to develop them in various sectors.

King Mohammed VI responded with his own greetings and thanks, praising the distinguished ties between Morocco and Saudi Arabia and the close links between their peoples.

Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz was accompanied by a high-level Saudi delegation that held meetings with Moroccan officials to discuss cooperation in strategic sectors such as industry, trade and investment.

Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour met with Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih, and both sides reaffirmed their determination to boost economic relations. Mezzour praised Saudi Arabia as Morocco's main Arab economic partner and one of its largest investors, noting that the talks seek to stimulate Saudi investment in Morocco and expand Moroccan exports to the Saudi market, boosting national productive capacity and creating employment opportunities for young people.

During the visit, an agreement was signed to enhance and protect mutual investments, creating a more attractive environment for investors and expanding cooperation in key sectors such as automotive, mining and phosphates.

Falih stressed that the visit reflects a shared desire to deepen economic cooperation, emphasising Saudi Arabia's position as one of Morocco's largest investors, particularly in renewable energy and manufacturing industries.

The Saudi Minister of Investment also announced the signing of a historic bilateral agreement to promote and protect mutual investments, aimed at strengthening investor confidence and providing an attractive legal and economic framework for developing partnerships in strategic sectors.

Saudi Arabia and Morocco share deep historical relations based on brotherhood and mutual cooperation, reflected in the strong ties between their leaders and the deep human bonds between their peoples. These relations have continuously evolved in multiple sectors, making them a model of successful Arab cooperation.

Saudi-Moroccan relations are characterised by close political and security coordination, and both countries share common views on numerous regional and international issues. Both sides are interested in strengthening strategic understandings that contribute to their common interests.

They also cooperate in the military and security fields, particularly in the fight against terrorism and organised crime, demonstrating the depth of their strategic alliance. Observers noted that Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz's visit also serves as an expression of fraternal solidarity with Morocco in the face of attempts to undermine its security and stability, particularly in the wake of the movements organised by Harakat Shabab Z, which some ideologically motivated internal and external forces attempted to exploit for chaotic agendas contrary to Morocco's public and regional interests.

Well-informed sources indicated that the Saudi delegation conveyed Riyadh's willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation by supporting the implementation of development projects in Morocco that meet the aspirations of young people and prevent the influence of subversive forces, whether motivated by extremist ideology or geopolitical calculations.

In early March, Saudi Arabia and Morocco expressed their satisfaction with the high level of bilateral relations, signing a customs cooperation agreement and a memorandum of understanding on environmental protection and sustainable development during the 14th session of the Saudi-Moroccan Joint Committee in Mecca.

According to a statement from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides praised the efforts of those involved in the committee's work to achieve leadership aspirations, improve joint cooperation in multiple sectors, advance distinguished relations and promote development towards broader horizons.

The agreements included a customs cooperation agreement for mutual recognition of the Authorised Economic Operator programme and a memorandum of understanding on environmental protection and sustainable development, without providing further details.

Economic cooperation remains a fundamental pillar of relations between Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Saudi Arabia finances several development projects in the Moroccan kingdom and maintains significant investments in the country. Approximately 250 Saudi companies operate in Morocco, while some 20 Moroccan companies operate in Saudi Arabia.

Some 22,000 Moroccans work in Saudi Arabia, reflecting the strong economic interconnection between the two nations. Saudi Arabia is Morocco's main Arab trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately 6.032 billion riyals (£1.608 billion) in 2023.

Moroccan imports from Saudi Arabia amounted to 592 million riyals ($158 million), while exports to the kingdom totalled 5.44 billion riyals ($1.45 billion). Moroccan exports include inorganic chemicals, automobiles and spare parts, fruit and clothing, while imports from Saudi Arabia consist of metal products, salts, cement, paper and dyes.