Morocco and Russia Explore New Cooperation Fronts at Sochi Ministerial Conference

Rabat – Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today on the sidelines of the inaugural Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum.

The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Morocco and Russia, as well as discussing key regional and global issues of mutual interest.

These talks come as Morocco and Russia continue to build on their longstanding relationship, anchored in a strategic partnership set in motion during King Mohammed VI’s historic visit to Moscow in 2016, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This partnership has fostered consistent high-level dialogue, reflecting both countries’ dedication to cooperation across various domains.

Bourita and Lavrov last met on September 27 during the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, following prior discussions in December 2023 at the Russia-Arab World Cooperation Forum in Marrakech.

This ongoing dialogue stands as testimony to the depth of Morocco-Russia relations and the mutual commitment to tackling issues of shared concern on the international stage.

In Sochi, Bourita and Lavrov reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to their collaborative framework, with Morocco signaling a fervent readiness to explore new areas of cooperation that align with its strategic partnerships and regional vision.

Building on the frameworks set at the 2019 Sochi and 2023 St. Petersburg summits, the ministerial conference in Sochi gathered representatives from both Russia and African nations to assess progress and outline new avenues for cooperation in Africa’s development.

Speaking on Morocco’s commitment to sustainable growth, Bourita pointed out key initiatives championed by King Mohammed VI, such as the Atlantic African Countries’ Rabat Process, the Sahel’s Atlantic access project, and the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline.

Bourita also spoke on Morocco’s unique approach to African relations, which relies on a development-focused, human-centered strategy. This includes Morocco’s South-South cooperation model, which he described as “active, supportive, and effective,” aimed at empowering local African solutions.

Looking beyond the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, he urged a focus on critical areas like food and energy security, expressing Morocco’s commitment to promoting impactful and action-oriented partnerships.

For Morocco, Bourita affirmed, these discussions offer a valuable opportunity to align with both Africa and Russia in advancing initiatives that promote human development, security, and sustainability across the continent.

In September 2023, Bourita and Lavrov exchanged congratulatory messages to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Russia. Celebrated on September 1, the occasion highlighted six and a half decades of strong, mutually beneficial ties between the two countries.