Morocco Morocco Foreign Policy & Geopolitics

[Knowledgeseeker]

The French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, welcomed, Monday in Rabat, the excellence of security cooperation between France and Morocco.


“Without our Moroccan friends and the excellence of the Moroccan judicial police, France would be more in danger than it is,” noted the French minister..
“Without the Moroccan intelligence services, France would be more affected,” he insisted. The French minister also indicated that his trip to Morocco is part of the new dynamic of bilateral relations, specifying that the objective is to put in place an ambitious road map for both Morocco and France.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1782444913302393263

 

[Iskander]

If you chase a Frenchman out of the door, he will stick his head in the window and say with a cheeky smile: "Bonjour, monsieur, how are you, nice to see you!"

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1795760109794066828

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

His Majesty the King terminated the duties of the Moroccan ambassador to France, and the decision has been valid since January 19, 2023. The same day that France made provocative moves toward the Kingdom within the European Union Parliament.

​

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1623815516786679809

France will recognize the Western Sahara region autonomy plan within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty as the only basis for a lasting resolution of the issue, President Emmanuel Macron said in a letter on Tuesday.


After more then a year of strained ties France decides to recognize the Moroccan sahara. Morocco demands that its partners show transparency, and respect. Hopefully this step will soften the negotiations of procurments in the field of defense, and expanding industrial defense cooperation.

@Nilgiri @Afif @TR_123456 @BaburKhan

 

[TR_123456]

France will recognize the Western Sahara region autonomy plan within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty as the only basis for a lasting resolution of the issue, President Emmanuel Macron said in a letter on Tuesday.


After more then a year of strained ties France decides to recognize the Moroccan sahara. Morocco demands that its partners show transparency, and respect. Hopefully this step will soften the negotiations of procurments in the field of defense, and expanding industrial defense cooperation.

@Nilgiri @Afif @TR_123456 @BaburKhan

You dont need anything from France,you have the US.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

You dont need anything from France,you have the US.

France have been showing us the double edged sword. For more then a year they been playing, and during this period they lost alot of contracts with Morocco, aswell as getting kicked out of sahel.

However France still remains important for Morocco, its not possible for us to put all our eggs in one basket.

Its possible that France will now be rewarded some civilian infrastructure projects related to the world cup, but im more excited about possible defense deals. The Americans have also not treated us the best, it seems like they have been delaying some important defense procurment.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Nasser Bourita FM: "There are those who are trying to drag the region into war, and we have recorded signs of escalation and a desire to move the conflict from escalation to military confrontation on the part of Algeria."


The voice of Morocco is getting louder each day that passes. For more than six decades, we have been patient and extended the hand of peace. The time for the outstretched hand is over. Morocco is ready to affirm that the kingdom will not submit to any threats.



Source:

https://alyaoum24.com/1928194.html


@Latebra Factum @Afif @TR_123456 @Kartal1 @DesertWarlord @Nilgiri

 

[DesertWarlord]

The Algerian regime never showed an interest in cooperation, making their intentions clear. Improving relations is difficult when their president openly states "We have reached a point of no return" placing blame only on Morocco. He has not only banned Moroccan commercial planes from Algerian airspace but also closed the border entirely. Recently, he imposed a visa requirement for Moroccans entering Algeria, further complicating visits for families separated between the two countries, decisions that are both childish and reactionary.

 

[Nilgiri]

Nasser Bourita FM: "There are those who are trying to drag the region into war, and we have recorded signs of escalation and a desire to move the conflict from escalation to military confrontation on the part of Algeria."


The voice of Morocco is getting louder each day that passes. For more than six decades, we have been patient and extended the hand of peace. The time for the outstretched hand is over. Morocco is ready to affirm that the kingdom will not submit to any threats.



Source:

https://alyaoum24.com/1928194.html


@Latebra Factum @Afif @TR_123456 @Kartal1 @DesertWarlord @Nilgiri

Morocco's active foreign policy over the years will serve it well regarding this. It has good relations with the West and improving relations with India too. It has strong trade and commerce relations with Europe to buttress this too.

I think 4 years of Trump coming up will also further improve Morocco's position (i.e continue trajectory of relation bedrock, no need to 180 etc, Trump transactionalism approach in defence+trade+investment suits Morocco quite well etc)...as Algeria tends to prefer the Russia-Iran-China sphere of things. I think overall Morocco foreign relations sphere is both clear one and will strengthen its position in defence and security vis a vis Algeria.

 

[Latebra Factum]

Nasser Bourita FM: "There are those who are trying to drag the region into war, and we have recorded signs of escalation and a desire to move the conflict from escalation to military confrontation on the part of Algeria."


The voice of Morocco is getting louder each day that passes. For more than six decades, we have been patient and extended the hand of peace. The time for the outstretched hand is over. Morocco is ready to affirm that the kingdom will not submit to any threats.



Source:

https://alyaoum24.com/1928194.html


@Latebra Factum @Afif @TR_123456 @Kartal1 @DesertWarlord @Nilgiri

Which is a proven fact , the Algerian regime has continued building up forces along its western borders (easy targets) thus rendering all efforts to make a peaceful agreement useless

Algeria was the first to cut diplomatic ties based on irrational claims

Algeria was the first to cut the natural gas pipeline again based on baseless claims

Algeria always supports the terrorist organisation named POLISARIO

And finally the Moroccan side wasn't able to change their hostile strategy towards us , therefore changing its speech , normal reaction .

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Morocco's active foreign policy over the years will serve it well regarding this. It has good relations with the West and improving relations with India too. It has strong trade and commerce relations with Europe to buttress this too.

I think 4 years of Trump coming up will also further improve Morocco's position (i.e continue trajectory of relation bedrock, no need to 180 etc, Trump transactionalism approach in defence+trade+investment suits Morocco quite well etc)...as Algeria tends to prefer the Russia-Iran-China sphere of things. I think overall Morocco foreign relations sphere is both clear one and will strengthen its position in defence and security vis a vis Algeria.

We have good relations with the West, as well as with India, Russia, and China. The Sahara file is very close to being completely closed, and Morocco has built a strong alliance with several partners.

With the launch of the Moroccan defense industry and the upcoming 2030 World Cup, many vital projects will help Morocco consolidate its position in the region.

Which is a proven fact , the Algerian regime has continued building up forces along its western borders (easy targets) thus rendering all efforts to make a peaceful agreement useless

Algeria was the first to cut diplomatic ties based on irrational claims

Algeria was the first to cut the natural gas pipeline again based on baseless claims

Algeria always supports the terrorist organisation named POLISARIO

And finally the Moroccan side wasn't able to change their hostile strategy towards us , therefore changing its speech , normal reaction .

This is without including more than 6 decades of foolishness. Sooner or later they will have to pay the price, unfortunately, this is the only solution to the conflict. On our part, the eastern military zone was established in early 2022.

 

[Nilgiri]

We have good relations with the West, as well as with India, Russia, and China. The Sahara file is very close to being completely closed, and Morocco has built a strong alliance with several partners.

With the launch of the Moroccan defense industry and the upcoming 2030 World Cup, many vital projects will help Morocco consolidate its position in the region.




This is without including more than 6 decades of foolishness. Sooner or later they will have to pay the price, unfortunately, this is the only solution to the conflict. On our part, the eastern military zone was established in early 2022.

Yeah I mean when it comes to defence matters specifically. Morocco has leaned into western ecosystem mostly (though yes it augments from China, India etc where it makes sense....I am not sure if it has notable Russian equipment in its orbat?).

In broader economic + relations sense, yes it makes sense to balance between West and East etc as East has large markets, suppliers and sound cultural exchanges for Morocco that will only grow and compete more with West over time.

But Morocco will gain some advantage in these 4 years from keeping relations distant from Iran. West because of US is going to make that more dominant thing going forward, so Morocco has good things to leverage here....Trump is going to bring Abraham accords front and centre and Morocco will have good options in defence tech from this as well.

Algeria security/defense source and deep relations wise is much more Russia, China and Iran focused...at least from western perspective...i.e perceived as leaning to the "other camp" heavily.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Yeah I mean when it comes to defence matters specifically. Morocco has leaned into western ecosystem mostly (though yes it augments from China, India etc where it makes sense....I am not sure if it has notable Russian equipment in its orbat?).

In broader economic + relations sense, yes it makes sense to balance between West and East etc as East has large markets, suppliers and sound cultural exchanges for Morocco that will only grow and compete more with West over time.

But Morocco will gain some advantage in these 4 years from keeping relations distant from Iran. West because of US is going to make that more dominant thing going forward, so Morocco has good things to leverage here....Trump is going to bring Abraham accords front and centre and Morocco will have good options in defence tech from this as well.

Algeria security/defense source and deep relations wise is much more Russia, China and Iran focused...at least from western perspective...i.e perceived as leaning to the "other camp" heavily.

We have long been users of American, and French weapons but we do have a few Russian platforms that we have mainly used to reach cost efficiency and operate in the desert. Notably the T-72, Tunguska, and the 219-Msta.


We do balance our ties between the West, and the East when it comes to economics, but also politically to a certain extent. The last forum that was convened at the level of foreign ministers between Russia, and the MENA was last year in Marrakech. We also concluded recently a very important fish agreement with Russia, and Russian commercial ships dock at Moroccan ports.


Iran chose to be an enemy of Morocco, and they took the enmity a step further when they tried to spread their religious ideology into West Africa, as well as supplying our neighbors, and their militias with weapons.


We have been waiting for Trump for a while, and hopefully, some strategic deals will be concluded. The Sahara file is an issue of the past, and the file will be closed soon.


I will conclude with what the Moroccan foreign minister mentioned. "The world is currently governed by the law of force and only recognizes the logic of force." We will respond accordingly.

​

 

[Afif]

Nasser Bourita FM: "There are those who are trying to drag the region into war, and we have recorded signs of escalation and a desire to move the conflict from escalation to military confrontation on the part of Algeria."


The voice of Morocco is getting louder each day that passes. For more than six decades, we have been patient and extended the hand of peace. The time for the outstretched hand is over. Morocco is ready to affirm that the kingdom will not submit to any threats.



Source:

https://alyaoum24.com/1928194.html


@Latebra Factum @Afif @TR_123456 @Kartal1 @DesertWarlord @Nilgiri

Tbh, I have no idea about the origin of Morocco-Algeria dispute. Is the any reading recommendation for a crash course?

 

[Yasar_TR]

Tbh, I have no idea about the origin of Morocco-Algeria dispute. Is the any reading recommendation for a crash course?

Bro, it is a long saga that covers more than 3 quarters of a century. Roots are in colonial rule.
If you ask a Moroccan, it is the Algerians at fault.
If you ask Algerians, it is the Moroccans’ fault.
Best to stay clear of it.

try below articles:

Morocco and Algeria: A Long Rivalry

The two neighbors’ diplomatic relations ceased last summer. But this recent break merely sheds a light on a history of tensions and mistrust.

carnegieendowment.org

North African standoff: How the Western Sahara conflict is fuelling new tensions between Morocco and Algeria

Europeans should pay closer attention to rising tensions between Morocco and Algeria. A more balanced European approach to both countries could help stave off instability in north-west Africa and the…

ecfr.eu

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Tbh, I have no idea about the origin of Morocco-Algeria dispute. Is the any reading recommendation for a crash course?

I have not found any good material that talks about the conflict in depth. Long story short, Morocco did not accept the offers from France to share the wealth of the Moroccan eastern Sahara part, and neither did we accept France to do nuclear tests. We helped the Algerians under their colonial rule with political, diplomatic, and military support so that they could have the ability to fund a state for the first time in over 500+ years after Moroccan, Turkish, and French rule.

Algeria got its independence after a referendum through the Evian agreements and later backtracked on the promises given by the provisional government of Algeria to Morocco. France decided to cede the eastern Sahara to Algeria, as well creating the new state born Mauritania.

You don't need a Moroccan, or an Algerian opinion about the matter since history speaks for itself.

​

Here is a French map of Africa in the late 1800s century.

 

[Nilgiri]

Things would have resolved over time, but the spanish left western sahara very quickly w.r.t Franco last few years.

That exacerbated all the issues for the long term as algeria supported polisario in violation of the Madrid accords signed by Morocco, Mauritania and Spain.

You lose soldier blood to sizeable neighbour who shares border (and border issues pending with you in another quadrant..... yeah that is bad blood set for the long term.....as basically they dont respect your soldiers.

In a hypothetical where western sahara situation didnt exist (or Algeria stayed out of it), I think morocco and algeria relations would have progressed lot differently.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Things would have resolved over time, but the spanish left western sahara very quickly w.r.t Franco last few years.

That exacerbated all the issues for the long term as algeria supported polisario in violation of the Madrid accords signed by Morocco, Mauritania and Spain.

You lose soldier blood to sizeable neighbour who shares border (and border issues pending with you in another quadrant..... yeah that is bad blood set for the long term.....as basically they dont respect your soldiers.

In a hypothetical where western sahara situation didnt exist (or Algeria stayed out of it), I think morocco and algeria relations would have progressed lot differently.

Spain did not leave the Sahara, or parts of the Sahara quickly, in fact, we are talking about more than 2 decades of military battles taking place before the Green March in 1975.

Morocco has always extended its hand to Algeria, even if Algeria has founded a proxy group against Morocco for the past five decades. Algeria should have just kept its nose in developing its own country rather than investing hundreds of billions in lobbyism in Africa and South America.


We have reached the point of no return, and Moroccans are happy to hear that! We do not wish for war, we do not wish to harm anyone, nor does the Moroccan state want the Algerian state to collapse. Remember it's Morocco that waged war on France, and supported the Algerians with training, resources, and political support. But we can not do much when we have a military junta on our borders waiting for the perfect moment to attack. We will act accordingly, and Morocco will only recognize the language of power from now on.


Everyone will get their share and their rights. Time is ticking

 

[Nilgiri]

Spain did not leave the Sahara, or parts of the Sahara quickly, in fact, we are talking about more than 2 decades of military battles taking place before the Green March in 1975.

Morocco has always extended its hand to Algeria, even if Algeria has founded a proxy group against Morocco for the past five decades. Algeria should have just kept its nose in developing its own country rather than investing hundreds of billions in lobbyism in Africa and South America.


We have reached the point of no return, and Moroccans are happy to hear that! We do not wish for war, we do not wish to harm anyone, nor does the Moroccan state want the Algerian state to collapse. Remember it's Morocco that waged war on France, and supported the Algerians with training, resources, and political support. But we can not do much when we have a military junta on our borders waiting for the perfect moment to attack. We will act accordingly, and Morocco will only recognize the language of power from now on.


Everyone will get their share and their rights. Time is ticking

Yeah I mean specifically after Spain announced it was leaving in 1966 or 1968 I forget. The did that ad hoc way compared to some phased structured gradual one....and it salted the situation for Morocco especially. It gets into complexities of Ifni war and Spain own history with Morocco...Franco and Spanish civil war etc.

Spain was well aware of Algeria hostility coming off the border/sand wars with Morocco which was first betrayal already after what you mention w.r.t Morocco assistance to Algerian revolutionary/independence war.

Franco Spain was just bad at this stuff IMO. i.e things involving adjudging Algerian establishment temperament given the revolution war against France compared to Morocco approach which had its different arc with its king and institutional inertia there that didn't see that kind of thing (i.e the nature of political status of Morocco w.r.t France and Spain in 19th and early 20th century).... this is what led to the border conflicts with Morocco right after Algerian independence....as this is very unique situation in world of very culturally compatible people but with these distinct establishment inertias (so establishments either become very close or enemies easily, with little in between from what I seen in conflict analysis in other parts of world too, French Indochina comes to mind to some degree).

Mauritania is just much smaller force and already had limited tenuous hold over its sahara expanse (that Algeria violates to supply and aid polisario)...also why Mauritania gave up on western sahara few years after 1975 too.

In hindsight, Spain could have done a lot better job, it kind of washed its hands of the situation rather than grapple with it for 10 years (when it announce it wants to leave)... and take Morocco's side ad help Morocco with that transition....given Morocco contribution to Spanish civil war + Morocco's immediate institutional capacity rather than what ended up happening.

It's been a long time I last looked into it deeply (I had good Moroccan defence buddy 25+ years ago in an earlier forum of that time, he tried to create a morocco specific one too which I participated for while, though I lost touch eventually when I went to college....but he formed large bedrock of what I know regd Morocco security context). Though you can probably see why I am sympathetic to Morocco situation here.

 

[Knowledgeseeker]

Yeah I mean specifically after Spain announced it was leaving in 1966 or 1968 I forget. The did that ad hoc way compared to some phased structured gradual one....and it salted the situation for Morocco especially. It gets into complexities of Ifni war and Spain own history with Morocco...Franco and Spanish civil war etc.

Spain was well aware of Algeria hostility coming off the border/sand wars with Morocco which was first betrayal already after what you mention w.r.t Morocco assistance to Algerian revolutionary/independence war.

Franco Spain was just bad at this stuff IMO. i.e things involving adjudging Algerian establishment temperament given the revolution war against France compared to Morocco approach which had its different arc with its king and institutional inertia there that didn't see that kind of thing (i.e the nature of political status of Morocco w.r.t France and Spain in 19th and early 20th century).... this is what led to the border conflicts with Morocco right after Algerian independence....as this is very unique situation in world of very culturally compatible people but with these distinct establishment inertias (so establishments either become very close or enemies easily, with little in between from what I seen in conflict analysis in other parts of world too, French Indochina comes to mind to some degree).

Mauritania is just much smaller force and already had limited tenuous hold over its sahara expanse (that Algeria violates to supply and aid polisario)...also why Mauritania gave up on western sahara few years after 1975 too.

In hindsight, Spain could have done a lot better job, it kind of washed its hands of the situation rather than grapple with it for 10 years (when it announce it wants to leave)... and take Morocco's side ad help Morocco with that transition....given Morocco contribution to Spanish civil war + Morocco's immediate institutional capacity rather than what ended up happening.

It's been a long time I last looked into it deeply (I had good Moroccan defence buddy 25+ years ago in an earlier forum of that time, he tried to create a morocco specific one too which I participated for while, though I lost touch eventually when I went to college....but he formed large bedrock of what I know regd Morocco security context). Though you can probably see why I am sympathetic to Morocco situation here.

Morocco asserted its claim on the Sahara in 1957, and the Ifni war proceeded as you mentioned, as well as other battles. In 1965, the UN demanded Spain end its claims in the Sahara. Then, the biggest operation, the Green March in 1975, took place, which led to the Spaniards packing their bags and leaving.

Spain could have done a better job, and the same applies to the French regarding our eastern Sahara that we have talked about in the past. This is part of their game, and they have done well to try to slow down Morocco. We have been plagued by the Western Sahara issue for over six decades, which gave us a lot of political instability and had a direct impact on our economy before the year 2000.

As King Hassan II mentioned during his reign, the issue with Algeria is not the main issue; the issue is the one hiding behind them. He was referring to Spain and France.

In regards to Mauritania, one of the biggest mistakes we made was pulling out our soldiers from north Mauritania in 1979. To this day many attacks take place within Mauritanian territory coming from Tindouf,Algeria.

The buffer zone of western Sahara is close to being abolished. Some interesting events have been taking place in the last 7 days. Last Friday a B-52 participated in a joint training with Moroccan F-16 focusing on bombing targets. On Monday the aircraft carrier USS Truman visited the coast of Hoceima, Morocco. I hope the message was delivered to the east.