It is a structured review of twenty-five years of Moroccan diplomacy that researcher Mohammed Rida Nour offers in a report published by the Moroccan Center for African Studies and Sustainable Development (CMEADD), entitled “Morocco’s Foreign Policy under Mohammed VI (1999-2025): institutionalized hedging and the production of a complex web of interdependencies.” Through an analysis combining international relations theory and empirical observations, the author sheds light on a progressive yet profound transformation of the Kingdom’s external action.
Far from simply adapting to changes in the international context, this mutation, according to the report, reflects a change in the logic of how Morocco conceives and exercises its influence. It is no longer just about preserving balances or securing alliances, but about structuring durable relationships, anchored in economic, legal, and institutional frameworks that strengthen the Kingdom’s position in its regional and international environment. This inflection, which is part of the Kingdom’s strategic orientations while renewing its instruments, marks the shift from a diplomacy of preservation to an assumed logic of interdependence.
From a diplomacy of balance to a strategy of “interlocking”
The CMEADD report provides a clear reading of this evolution by relying on a formula that underpins the analyses: “King Hassan II worked to preserve, King Mohammed VI works to interlock” with his partners. This shift does not mean rupture, but reconfiguration. Under King Hassan II, Moroccan diplomacy was part of the Cold War context and then regional reconfiguration, where the priority was to secure alliances and preserve strategic balances. Since 1999, Morocco has progressively shifted the center of gravity of its external action towards a more proactive logic.
The report describes this evolution as an “institutionalized hedging” strategy, aiming to multiply partnerships without locking itself into exclusive alignments, while anchoring these relationships in durable structures. The objective is no longer just to diversify, but to create interdependencies, so that “the costs of rupture become high for the partners.”
Geo-economy as an instrument of power
One of the major contributions of the report lies in the centrality given to geo-economics. Morocco is portrayed as an actor that mobilizes its economic capabilities to produce geopolitical effects. The Tanger Med port complex is the most emblematic illustration of this. By establishing itself as a leading logistics hub, it has allowed the Kingdom to integrate into the heart of global value chains, particularly in the automotive industry. This integration, as emphasized in the report, contributes to creating “a form of structural deterrence,” whereby any disruption would also affect Morocco’s economic partners. This logic extends beyond the case of Tanger Med and is part of a broader strategy to make Morocco an indispensable link in regional and international economic circuits.
Europe: between interdependence and disputes
As the Kingdom’s main trading partner, the European Union plays a central role in this architecture. The report highlights a relationship characterized by strong economic integration and recurring legal tensions. The judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union regarding agreements involving the Sahara have opened a new sequence, where the law becomes a battleground. However, these disputes have not undermined the depth of the economic relations, illustrating the solidity of the interdependencies built over the years. In this configuration, Morocco implements a qualified approach of “lawfare,” mobilizing legal instruments in addition to traditional diplomatic action to preserve its interests and consolidate its positions.
The African pivot: influence through integration
Morocco’s return to the African Union in 2017 marked a decisive stage in the redeployment of its foreign policy. The report highlights that sub-Saharan Africa has become a priority space for projecting Moroccan influence. This presence is supported by structuring economic instruments. Moroccan banking groups, such as Attijariwafa bank, participate in structuring financial systems in numerous countries. Additionally, the OCP group develops industrial and agricultural projects, notably in Ethiopia and Nigeria, contributing to the continent’s food security. The report emphasizes this dimension by highlighting that Morocco is “converting its phosphates rent into a lever for geopolitical influence,” engaging in co-development dynamics.
The Sahara: strategic centrality and instrument mutation
The Sahara issue remains the cornerstone of Moroccan diplomacy. However, the report highlights a shift in methods. In addition to traditional diplomatic action, Morocco has invested in legal and normative fields. This strategy aims to gradually impose the autonomy plan as a reference framework in international arenas. The American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara in 2020 is part of this dynamic, illustrating the Kingdom’s ability to align its priorities with broader geopolitical reconfigurations.
Religious soft power: normative influence
Another dimension highlighted by the report is the role of religion in Moroccan foreign policy. Through the training of imams and the promotion of moderate Islam, Morocco develops an influence that goes beyond strictly diplomatic frameworks. This lever contributes to strengthening ties with several partner countries, positioning the Kingdom as a credible actor in the fight against extremism. The report sees this as a form of “transnational normative security,” based on the dissemination of common religious and institutional references.
An ambitious strategy under constraints
Despite this rise in power, the report points out the existence of structural constraints. The Moroccan economy remains heavily dependent on the European Union, which accounts for a significant portion of foreign exchanges. Additionally, factors such as water stress or Sahel instability are vulnerability elements that could influence the Kingdom’s trajectory. The report thus mentions a “paradox of autonomy,” where the quest for strategic independence occurs in an environment of persistent interdependencies.
A diplomacy in reconfiguration
At the end of this analysis, the CMEADD report highlights a significant evolution in Moroccan diplomacy. Without breaking with its fundamentals, the Kingdom has gradually redefined its instruments and modes of action. From a diplomacy of balance to a strategy of interdependence, from an alignment logic to a fine management of multiple partnerships, Morocco asserts itself as an actor capable of navigating a complex international environment. In a context marked by shifting power relations, this approach could establish the Kingdom as a pivotal power between Europe and Africa, provided it transforms its strengths into a lasting capacity for regulation.
