Le Figaro reported this Wednesday that the French Republican Party’s president, who has yet to set a date for his visit to the Kingdom, will undertake an official trip to Morocco from May 3 to May 5.

“This visit confirms our political family’s ties to the friendships that bind our countries together. The right-wing political organization stated in a statement that “it is a continuation of a rich history between the Cherifian kingdom and the Gaullist family, marked by the historical link that brought together General de Gaulle and King Mohammed V, a companion of the Liberation.”

Eric Ciotti, who is of Lebanese descent, wants to seek “a relationship of brotherhood and responsibility” centered on the “same concern to ensure stability around the Mediterranean.”

“A concern for security and progress carried today with ambition by King Mohammed VI, a key interlocutor in Mediterranean issues,” the same source claimed.

The political formation states, “It is up to us to strengthen this relationship of the future as beneficial to France and Morocco as it is to Africa and Europe.”

Ciotti has requested a referendum on immigration to alter the French Constitution and France’s pledges to family reunion on Europe 1 on Wednesday.

Ciotti stated that in order to “modify our Constitution, our treaty obligations, including the European Court of Human Rights which authorizes family reunification with its Article 8,” “we need a referendum to change the framework.”

Ciotti enumerated his demands while pleading for a “revolution,” including “no more rights for illegal immigrants, more social benefits from the first day for regulars,” and “that we treat the asylum applications at the border, stop family reunification, and review the code of nationality.”

This journey takes place in the middle of a diplomatic and economic crisis between the two nations, which frequently makes their citizens’ lives—which are intertwined by a tight geographic, economic, and historical proximity—come into sharp focus.

Relations between Morocco and France had been silently suffering  as a deep crisis persists, reflected on international standings on the Western Sahara, visa restrictions and space official visits.

A team from the French Senate, led by its president Gérard Larcher, was scheduled to travel to Rabat at the end of April, but that trip has been postponed until further notice.

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The director of Security and Defense Cooperation visited Morocco this week in order to further develop this cooperation, showing that Morocco and France’s military cooperation continues despite the turmoil that plagues their relationship.

General Régis Colcombet, Director of Security and Defense Cooperation for the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has concluded his working visit to Morocco, according to the French Embassy in Rabat.

In a tweet posted on Friday, the embassy stated that General Colombet was able to hold “rich meetings with several Moroccan partners in security and defense cooperation” while on a working visit to Morocco.

Military affairs specialist Mohamed Chakir asserts that Spain has also encountered paradoxes comparable to the one that exists at the moment regarding Morocco’s military and security ties with France and Spain. He says that these relationships are regulated by agreements that are not affected by political difficulties since they are founded on military ties and interests, which are private and adhere to a different logic from politics.

Chakir notes that agreements governing military and security cooperation are often made on a long-term basis and are unaffected by diplomatic problems or political unrest. He also emphasizes how crucial and strategically important the military ties between Morocco and these nations are.

Since Morocco’s independence from France in 1956, there has been a long history of military cooperation between Morocco and France. Since then, Morocco has been a key ally of France in Africa, and the two nations have maintained close military ties.

Moroccan and French military cooperation has recently concentrated on counterterrorism initiatives, with both nations collaborating to fight regional terrorist groups. France has aided Morocco’s efforts to uphold peace in the Sahel by offering the G5 Sahel joint military force military and logistical support.

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When questioned at the joint press conference, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna defended France’s position on the Sahara issue, reaffirming her country’s support for the Kingdom’s autonomy plan. A support that dates back several years (since 2007).

“Everyone is aware of France’s position. It is the position that has the advantage of being both clear and consistent. We support the efforts of the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy. And we wish the resumption of negotiations between the parties for a fair and realistic solution,” she stated, adding: “France’s position at the United Nations for the renewal of the mandate of Minurso has been appreciated by Morocco and we have measured it in past years with constancy”.

“We demonstrated this at the United Nations and even when we were somewhat alone in wanting to advance some ideas. So we don’t change,” she said, adding that “Morocco can count on France’s support.”

“MOROCCO HAS NEVER CONSIDERED FRANCE’S POSITION TO BE NEGATIVE”.

Indeed, the press conference provided an opportunity for both officials to clarify their positions on the issue. Nasser Bourita, the head of Moroccan diplomacy, was extremely clear. “Morocco has never considered that the position of France is negative”, he said, adding that “France has been from the beginning, pioneer in the appreciation and support of the autonomy plan”.

The minister did, however, mention the “need to adapt” the French position to recent regional and geopolitical developments. “The need for adaptation is on the table and can be explored,” he said.

The head of Moroccan diplomacy reaffirmed Morocco’s willingness to find a solution within the UN framework, while expressing his rejection of the idea that the UN process is an end in itself. “The political process must lead us to a solution,” he explained.

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