Baerbock in Morocco: A new chapter in relations

Germany and Morocco have drawn a line under their months-long crisis and agreed to start again. Foreign Minister Baerbock’s visit also dealt with cooperation on energy issues.

The severe relationship crisis seems to be forgotten. From Annalena Baerbock’s point of view, Germany and Morocco have not only opened a new chapter in mutual relations – they are already one step further: “We have worked out what content this new chapter of our joint book, our bilateral relations, want to have,” she explained Foreign Minister in Rabat.

Until recently, there had been severe distortions in mutual relations: the main reason was Germany’s position on Western Sahara, which regards Morocco as part of its own national territory. The German position deviates from this: In Berlin, a negotiation process led by the United Nations is being used to clarify this issue.

Cooperation on energy and climate

As a written expression of their new relationship chapter, Germany and Morocco published a comprehensive joint statement. In the Morocco is recognized as a “key partner of the EU and Germany” and as a “bridge between North and South”.

Cooperation is to be expanded, among other things, in energy and climate issues, in the production of green hydrogen. But also with security, the fight against terrorism and the greater participation of women in the labor market in Morocco.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who began his speech in fluent German, spoke of a “new phase in relations” with Germany. Baerbock left it – as she apologetically noted – with two Arabic terms in the joint press conference.

Ukraine war and crisis region Mali

The Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is also mentioned in the statement. According to the paper, both sides “express their grave concern” about the “impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” including the world food crisis. So far, however, Morocco has evidently not been persuaded to issue a direct and harsh condemnation of Russia. The Maghreb state did not vote in the vote in the UN General Assembly.

Morocco is also of crucial strategic importance for Germany because it represents a kind of “anchor of stability” in the region. In the nearby Sahel zone, namely in Mali, where soldiers of the Bundeswehr are also stationed, Russia is currently trying to massively expand its influence. “We agree: we must not leave Mali alone, and above all we must not leave Mali to Russia,” emphasized Foreign Minister Baerbock.