Rabat – The new British government has emphasized its commitment to continue boosting bilateral ties with Morocco at all levels, including security.
British Minister of State for Defense, Lord Vernon Coaker conveyed his government’s determination earlier this week during a speech at a reception hosted by the Moroccan embassy in London to celebrate the 25th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne on Tuesday.
“As Morocco moves towards a brighter future under the leadership of his majesty King Mohammed VI, and as the world’s eyes are focused on the kingdom co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, Morocco can count on the United Kingdom as an enthusiastic and reliable partner,” he said.
Coaker also recalled Morocco’s contribution to keeping peace and promoting stability and development in the Sahel and theWest Africa regions under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.
He further commended the UK-Morocco military cooperation, citing joint training programs and military exercises to argue that this partnership has witnessed a qualitative leap in recent years.
The two countries notably share good diplomatic relations, and officials from both countries have in recent months expressed their camp’s determination to further boost bilateral cooperation at all levels.
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In 2019, Morocco and the UK signed an Association Agreement to ensure that the two countries maintain their relationships unscathed following Brexit.
Since then, the two countries have been working to boost and develop bilateral cooperation covering different sectors, including agriculture, textiles, and the pharmaceutical sector.
As they work toward further expanding their strong partnership, London and Rabat are discernibly focusing on boosting political dialogue.
A notable trend has emerged in the UK in recent weeks in this regard: Members of parliament in the country are increasingly urging their government to align with the deepening international consensus over the Sahara dispute by supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In May, more than 30 British MPs wrote a letter to the UK Secretary of State for Foreign wealth and Development Affairs urging for recognition of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
“Morocco stands paramount among these partner nations, it is a top strategic ally in North Africa, with shared values and perspectives crucial to both our countries,” the MPs said.
