Thierry de Montbrial, President of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), called for an end to French ambiguity on the Moroccan Sahara issue.
“Today, we are facing a new world, with new challenges, new conditions and new actors. A world that calls for new choices (…). We cannot remain indefinitely in ambiguity” regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, Montbrial told MAP.
De Montbrial made his comment at a debate held on Wednesday by IFRI on the prospects for a strengthened strategic partnership between Rabat and Paris. Morocco’s Ambassador to Paris Samira Sitail participated in the debate.
The President of IFRI, France’s leading institution for research and debate on international relations, noted that addressing this issue “is in accordance with the interests of the Maghreb countries, Africa, and the security of European countries.”
He also commended the momentum of French-Moroccan ties that are based on mutual understanding and trust. “The fact that the two countries are at a stage where they share a common understanding of the challenges and a willingness to rebuild mutual trust is precious and promising”, he said.
De Montbrial, also a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, pointed out that in a global context marked by the multiplicity of challenges and the scarcity of resources, “the two countries have rightly chosen to define the areas in which they can strengthen their partnership, notably in energy, climate, and cultural exchange.”
He added that these choices will be more relevant if they are made according to “partnership models with African countries.”
IFRI president also expressed admiration for Morocco’s achievements in all areas, and the role the Kingdom plays in the economic development of many African countries.
IFRI ranked for the past three years in the top three of the world’s most influential think tanks by the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, IFRI is also ranked 5th overall and 4th in Europe in 2021.