The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, announced that he would soon travel to Syria to reopen the Moroccan embassy there, marking a new phase in the relationship between Rabat and Damascus after over a decade of diplomatic rupture. During a visit to Rabat by his Syrian counterpart for his first official visit to the kingdom, Mr. Bourita called this trip a moment of “major political and diplomatic significance” as Syria undergoes significant changes.
Under the authority of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has remained steadfast in its consistent stance towards Syria. Rabat has supported “the aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom and dignity” while always respecting Syrian national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This position has been maintained throughout the crisis.
Mr. Bourita also commended the developments initiated by the Syrian authorities during the current transition period. He praised the Syrian people and leaders for the political, legal, economic, and security measures already taken, which would help “restore stability, unite the Syrians, and pull the country out of a long period of tension.”
The Moroccan minister highlighted several signs of Syria gradually reintegrating into its regional and international environment. New European and economic positions now reflect a willingness to treat Damascus as a partner for regional balance rather than a crisis hotspot. Mr. Bourita linked this change to messages sent by the Moroccan sovereign to President Bashar al-Assad and Rabat’s decision last June to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital.
He also revisited key moments in Morocco’s position during the Syrian crisis, such as the closure of the Moroccan embassy in 2012 and King Mohammed VI’s visit to the Zaatari camp in Jordan, where a Moroccan field hospital had assisted Syrian refugees. Mr. Bourita emphasized that “the humanitarian dimension has always been part of Moroccan foreign policy towards Syria.”
In addition, the two countries have agreed to review all agreements governing their bilateral relations, which are now deemed inadequate given current expectations. This revision will lead to the establishment of a joint committee between the foreign ministers, a permanent mechanism for political consultation, and a consular commission dedicated to issues concerning the Moroccan and Syrian communities.
Morocco will also grant one hundred university scholarships to Syrian students. Rabat has expressed willingness to share its experience in various fields, including transitional justice, public administration, agriculture, maritime fisheries, tourism, and food security.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Bourita presented the reopening of embassies in Rabat and Damascus as the basis for a new diplomatic chapter aimed at deepening relations between the two states and securing the stability of the Arab and regional environment.
