The King’s Message to his Ambassadors: Diplomacy, Economic Action, and Progress

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In King Mohammed VI’s address at the First Conference of Moroccan Ambassadors, the monarch outlined his vision for Moroccan diplomacy and geopolitical strategy, touching on Maghreb relations, African relations, and Morocco’s position in the global community.  His overall message was one of action—calling on his ambassadors to leverage diplomatic relations to advance Morocco’s interests in the international political realm.  

The king began his address with a reminder that Morocco is a nation in development, a country “keeping up with the times, committed to universal principles and ideals, as well as to the virtues of dialogue, consultation, and persuasion.” He then outlined what he expects from his diplomatic envoys around the world.  Their main goals:

1) Continued support of “Moroccan territorial integrity,” particularly concerning the issue of the Western Sahara;

2) Promotion of the “Moroccan model’ of human development and economic development as a “strategic goal which will open up endless opportunities for cooperation in all fields;”

3) Economic development, consultation, and coordination with “all economic actors, both public and private, to promote the economic potential of [Morocco].”

4) Encouragement of cultural diplomacy to “promote the genuine Moroccan cultural heritage at the international level.”

Keeping in line with advancing Morocco’s strategic geopolitical interests, economic development goals, and cultural promotion, the monarch outlined his goals for three main strategic regions of interest—the Maghreb, the African continent, and the larger international community.

The Maghreb: Alluding to the past few years of turmoil in the region, the king proposes that the ambassadors promote a “new Maghreb order that will rise above all sources of conflict” and strengthen ties between the Maghreb nations.

The African Continent: As ties with Sub-Saharan nations could have potentially beneficial economic implications for Morocco, the king suggests upholding the amicable relations that he has established in his many visits to African nations by building on “the values of solidarity, fraternity, and African self-reliance.”  Furthermore, the monarch encourages bilateral and multilateral strategic relations with groups such as the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, the Conference of African States Boring the Atlantic Ocean, and the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation.

The International Community: The King promises diplomacy and peace strategizing above all when addresses the current conflicts in the Arab world—mainly in considering security issues and the Palestinian cause.  He also iterates his intention to further strengthen economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation States and the European Union.  In addition, “the Moroccan diplomatic service will have to do its utmost to strengthen the Kingdom’s relations with sister nations and friendly countries in other continents and geographic areas, within the framework of a proactive policy aimed at diversifying and enlarging the scope of  [Morocco’s] international cooperation”—particularly with economically strategic countries.

The monarch is certainly attempting an innovative methodology, by Moroccan standards—one that focuses on openness, dialogue, and reform with the goal of creating a wider scope of Moroccan economic, political, and human development.