Rabat– General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone, held talks in Paris on Thursday with General Fabien Mandon, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, as part of an official working visit to France.
The meeting reflects the growing momentum in defense cooperation between Morocco and France, with both countries seeking to deepen military ties and strengthen strategic coordination.
Following the talks, General Mandon highlighted the strength of the bilateral military relationship between the two nations. “Our armed forces maintain a strong bilateral relationship, built over the long term and firmly focused on the future,” he wrote on social media platform X.
The meeting marks the third official encounter between the two military leaders. Their previous meetings took place in September 2025 during General Mandon’s official presentation as France’s top military officer and in December 2025 when General Berrid was awarded the French Legion of Honour.
The discussions come just days after Moroccan Minister Delegate in charge of National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi met in Paris with French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin, affirming the sustained high-level exchanges between Rabat and Paris in the defense sector.
General Berrid’s visit also coincides with the Eurosatory defense and security exhibition, one of the world’s leading events in the sector, taking place in Paris from June 15 to 19 and bringing together military officials, defense companies, and security experts from across the globe.
The meeting comes as the two countries prepare for a high-level meeting scheduled for July in Rabat, as part of their ambition to boost bilateral ties at all levels.
In July 2025, France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) launched a joint armaments committee aimed at deepening defense industrial cooperation with Morocco, with a particular focus on strengthening the kingdom’s Defense Industrial and Technological Base (DITB).
The latest meeting highlights the continued strengthening of Morocco-France defense relations amid evolving regional and international security challenges.
