The Franco-Moroccan partnership: between asymmetric perceptions and diverging ambitions

Emmanuel Macron's recent statement at the January 2025 Ambassadors' Conference on the Franco-Moroccan partnership reveals a particularly problematic reading of bilateral relations. 

By stating that this partnership ‘must be one of our relays for a reinvented African approach’, the French head of state reveals a conception of international relations that seems out of step with contemporary geopolitical realities.

The use of the modal verb ‘must’ in the president's expression is symptomatic of a prescriptive approach that betrays the persistence of a post-colonial vision of international relations. This stance seems all the more anachronistic given that it comes in a context in which Morocco has been developing an autonomous and ambitious African strategy for almost a decade, formalised in particular in the royal speech of February 2014 in Abidjan.

The misunderstanding crystallises especially in the presidential formulation: ‘In other words, we will have Franco-Moroccan projects on the African continent. Because it is another way of approaching this continent and of changing the way we look at France when we approach it together. 

This statement reveals a double misunderstanding. On the one hand, it presupposes that Morocco would agree to serve as a vehicle for rehabilitating France's image in Africa. On the other hand, it seems to ignore the fact that the Kingdom of Morocco has forged its own doctrine of South-South cooperation, independent of Western interests.

The French vision of partnership thus appears to be a distorting prism through which French diplomacy attempts to rebuild its declining influence in Africa.

This approach fundamentally ignores the profound transformations that have reshaped the African geopolitical landscape in recent years. Far from being a mere potential successor to French influence, Morocco has established itself as a major player on the continent, developing multidimensional strategic partnerships with numerous African countries.

Morocco's strategy is based on clearly established fundamentals: a pragmatic economic approach, balanced partnerships and a strong South-South vision. This policy is based on a detailed understanding of continental dynamics and relies on its own levers of influence, be they economic, cultural or religious. The Kingdom has thus built its African legitimacy on an autonomous basis, far from any logic of substitution or replacement of a third power.

The inadequacy of the French interpretation is also evident in its apparent ignorance of new regional dynamics. Contemporary Africa is characterised by the multiplication of South-South partnerships, the emergence of new regional powers and a growing diversification of strategic alliances. In this context, the idea of ‘reinventing’ the French approach through an instrumental partnership with Morocco reflects a persistent difficulty in understanding these structural transformations.

Rebuilding a balanced partnership would require a profound change in the French conception of international relations. This would entail:

• The abandonment of a prescriptive stance in favour of a dialogue between equals.
• Explicit recognition of Morocco's strategic autonomy.
• The development of a truly multilateral approach
• The construction of projects based on a real convergence of interests.

The president's speech thus illustrates the limits of a French diplomacy that is struggling to truly reinvent itself. The use of ‘must’ and the instrumental conception of partnership reveal a persistent difficulty in breaking historical relational patterns. This approach risks not only being counterproductive in the bilateral relationship with Morocco, but also compromising France's broader capacity to forge balanced partnerships on the African continent.

To rebuild a fruitful relationship, France should adopt a more humble and realistic approach, recognising that Morocco, like other African countries, pursues its own strategic objectives. The aim would be to develop partnerships based not on a presumption of convergence of interests, but on a precise identification of mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

The Franco-Moroccan partnership can only develop harmoniously if France agrees to fundamentally rethink its approach to international relations, particularly in the African context. This requires abandoning post-colonial reflexes in favour of an approach that fully recognises the strategic autonomy of its partners.