Morocco and Egypt enhance strategic partnership through new mechanisms

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty to Rabat today, marking a significant step in their shared desire to strengthen the partnership between the two North African nations.

The high-level meeting established new institutional frameworks to elevate bilateral cooperation in accordance with the vision set by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Bourita described the Moroccan-Egyptian relationship as rooted in history with solid foundations, enjoying special care from both leaders. “This relationship has history, it has solid foundations, and it enjoys special care from His Majesty King Mohammed VI and his brother His Excellency President El Sisi,” he said during a press conference.

The ministers activated the High Joint Committee as an umbrella mechanism to oversee bilateral relations.

Under this framework, both countries will establish a Joint Coordination and Follow-up Committee at the governmental level. This will be chaired by both prime ministers and include sectoral ministers to monitor cooperation between the nations.

The two top diplomats also pledged to enhance their countries’ existing political consultation and dialogue mechanisms, recognizing their shared positions across Arab, African, and Mediterranean spaces.

The coordination committee will meet every two years, alternating between Cairo and Rabat, while political dialogue sessions will occur at least annually, with additional meetings as circumstances require. These mechanisms will address issues ranging from Middle Eastern affairs to Mediterranean concerns and African continental matters.

A major focus centered on transforming the economic relationship from competition to complementarity and mutual benefit. Bourita stressed moving away from “zero-sum game” thinking and exploring economic integration that leverages each country’s regional presence. “Egypt has a presence in East Africa, Morocco has a presence in West Africa,” he said, urging better economic coordination between the countries.

The ministers referenced existing frameworks, including the Arab Trade Agreement, the Agadir Agreement, and the African Continental Free Trade Area, as foundations for enhanced cooperation.

The meeting addressed cultural dimensions, with plans to strengthen connections between intellectuals, journalists, and artists from both countries. Minister Abdelatty carried a written message from President El-Sisi to HM King Mohammed VI, underlining the personal leadership engagement.

On regional challenges, Morocco reiterated support for Egypt’s water security rights, calling it a matter of Arab national security that must be resolved through dialogue. Meanwhile, both ministers condemned Israel’s unrelenting assaults on Palestinians in Gaza. They voiced support for a two-state solution, calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Bourita noted that Morocco and Egypt consult almost weekly before major regional commitments, positioning both nations as voices of wisdom that push toward solutions rather than inflaming tensions. This visit, the first by the current Egyptian Foreign Minister, establishes systematic cooperation across multiple domains.

The meeting reflects the deep-rooted strength of Moroccan-Egyptian relations and the commitment of both sides to translate high-level political will into practical mechanisms that match the ambitions set by their respective leaderships. With both countries positioning themselves as stabilizing forces in their respective regions while maintaining strong historical ties, today’s agreements provide a structured framework for addressing shared challenges while maximizing mutual opportunities in an increasingly complex regional environment.