Agadir – Morocco and the Netherlands discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on migration, security, and trade during talks between Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Dutch counterpart, Tom Berendsen, in New York.
The meeting took place Thursday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said.
The talks provided an opportunity for the two ministers to review bilateral relations and cooperation across several areas while exploring ways to further strengthen ties between the two countries.
The officials also discussed regional and international issues of common interest and examined ways to coordinate positions within international organizations.
Berendsen separately described Morocco as “a valuable partner” in a social media post following the meeting.
“Always a pleasure to speak with my Moroccan colleague Nasser Bourita. Morocco is a valuable partner. We discussed our cooperation on migration, security and trade,” the Dutch minister said.
The New York meeting comes amid efforts by Rabat and The Hague to expand their bilateral partnership across several sectors.
Morocco-Netherlands ties gain momentum
Morocco and the Netherlands have worked in recent years to broaden cooperation in areas including security, justice, migration, trade, and maritime affairs.
During a working visit to Morocco in April, Berendsen and Bourita reaffirmed their intention to deepen bilateral relations and move toward a strategic partnership.
The two countries agreed to work on a Morocco-Netherlands Multi-Sectoral Action Plan covering political dialogue, security, justice, migration, consular matters, and cultural, scientific, and human cooperation. They also called for a roadmap to guide bilateral cooperation in the coming period.
The April talks followed a joint declaration signed in The Hague in December 2025, in which both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic, agricultural, security, migration, cultural, and scientific fields. The declaration also called for a bilateral security dialogue and a specialized committee on counterterrorism.
Justice and security cooperation have also expanded. In April, Morocco and the Netherlands discussed judicial cooperation, the modernization of Morocco’s justice system, the exchange of expertise, and the digitalization of legal services. The two sides also addressed cooperation against organized crime, terrorism, and other cross-border security challenges.
Migration remains another key area of bilateral cooperation. The two countries launched the Government-to-Government Migration and Mobility Partnership in 2022 and have continued discussions on migration management, including the identification of individuals and the issuance of travel documents.
During his April visit to Morocco, Berendsen also reiterated the Netherlands’ position that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty represents the “most feasible solution” in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
The Dutch government said at the time that it supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, with the aim of reaching a “just, lasting, and mutually acceptable settlement.”
