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Rabat – German Foreign Affairs Minister Johann David Wadephul commended cooperation and bilateral ties with Morocco in a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, on Monday.
The call, the first of its kind between Wadephul and Bourita, served as an opportunity for both Berlin and Rabat to emphasize the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries and reaffirm their commitment to strengthened relations.
Both ministers also expressed a desire to see their relationship grow at all levels, with the German minister satisfied with cooperation between Rabat and Berlin in various fields like economy, energy, and employment.
Bourita and Wadephul also confirmed their intention to continue the strategic dialogue that the two countries established as part of a Joint Declaration in 2022. The next dialogue session will take place in Rabat, they announced.
Germany is one of the growing list of EU countries that view Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
The newfound position came after a period of brief tension between Rabat and Berlin after Morocco recalled its ambassador from Germany in May 2021, two months after the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the suspension of all contacts with the German embassy in Rabat.
The ministry said back then that the decision was due to Germany’s “exacerbated hostile acts” against Moroccan interests, particularly the country’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
In December 2021, the German Foreign Ministry released a press statement expressing support for Morocco’s efforts in the UN-led political process to find a political solution to end the dispute.
It also asserted that the autonomy initiative is an “important contribution to efforts to end the dispute.”
The German government has long emphasized the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries. This cooperation covers several areas, like security, migration, as well as innovation, and climate change.
According to data from the German Federal Foreign Office, Germany and Morocco enjoy significant economic and trade ties.
“Germany is currently Morocco’s sixth-largest trading partner,” the office said, noting that imports from Morocco amounted to over €3.2 billion, and exports to Morocco totaled €3.5 billion last year.
About 300 German companies are operating in Morocco, creating 35,000 jobs in the North African country.
Beyond trade, Morocco is one of the premier tourist destinations for Germans.
“In 2024, approximately 4% of foreign tourists were from Germany,” the German office concluded.
