Assahafa.com
Morocco and Argentina are celebrating this year the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, marked by strength, consistency, and sustainability, said Morocco’s Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Fares Yassir, on Tuesday evening.
The Moroccan diplomat, who was giving an academic lecture at the Argentine Council for International Relations under the theme “Morocco–Argentina: 65 Years of Diplomatic Relations, Achievements and Opportunities,” emphasized that these bilateral relations are “solid, historical, and strategic”.
During this conference, Ambassador Yassir underlined the secret behind this long-standing and robust partnership, which “is nourished by mutual trust and reciprocal respect.” He recalled that it is not merely a political connection, but also a “human and cultural bridge” deeply rooted in the history of both peoples.
The ambassador gave a detailed overview of the origins of Moroccan-Argentine relations, recalling the arrival of the first Moroccan Jewish migrants to Argentina in the 19th century. Families from cities such as Tetouan settled in Buenos Aires and other provinces, contributing to the country’s economic, educational, and cultural life. This human foundation, he noted, served as the first bridge between the two nations.
Official diplomatic relations were established in 1960, marking a new phase in this rapprochement. Since then, they have been strengthened through ongoing dialogue and regular high-level exchanges.
In this context, the ambassador mentioned the visit of former President Carlos Menem to Morocco and that of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to Argentina in 2004, two milestones that further consolidated bilateral cooperation.
Over the decades, Morocco and Argentina have built a partnership “based on economic complementarity, political trust, and mutual support in international forums.” In this regard, Fares Yassir highlighted the reciprocal backing both countries have offered each other in their candidacies for various multilateral positions, reflecting their convergence of views on many global issues.
The diplomat also referred to the ongoing visit of a major Argentine business delegation to Morocco, composed of companies from the pharmaceutical and technology sectors.
Yassir also underscored Morocco’s political evolution, from the Idrissid dynasty to the modern era, highlighting the institutional continuity and stability that characterize the Kingdom, “a major asset in a region often marked by instability.”
The ambassador elaborated on Morocco’s strategic choices, notably its Western orientation while preserving its African and Arab depth and authenticity.
This vision has materialized through an ambitious development model based on economic diversification and investment in large-scale infrastructure projects, ports, highways, airports, the high-speed rail line, dams, as well as the development of the automotive and aeronautical industries, which have become showcases of Morocco’s industrial success.
He also emphasized Morocco’s geostrategic position as a natural “hub” connecting Africa, Europe, and Latin America, with Casablanca serving as an air transport hub and Tangier Med as a major maritime and logistics platform for intercontinental trade and human mobility.
Tourism, he added, is also a key pillar of this strategy. With over 17.4 million annual visitors, Morocco ranks among the leading destinations on the African continent.
The country is also asserting itself as an African leader in renewable energies through substantial investments in solar, wind, and soon green hydrogen projects.
Ambassador Yassir further stressed the cultural and sporting dimensions of Morocco’s soft power, citing the global impact of Moroccan football, which reached its peak with the national team’s historic qualification for the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
This achievement, he said, “enhanced Morocco’s international visibility and strengthened its image as a modern, confident, and open nation.”
Morocco will soon host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and co-organize the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, a testament to “global recognition of the Kingdom’s organizational capacity,” he said.
Thus, the diplomat underscored Morocco’s proactive and dynamic diplomacy, praising its achievements regarding the Sahara issue, notably the recognition of the Moroccan sovereignty by several world powers, including three permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the Kingdom’s triumphant return to the African Union in 2017.
In sum, these 65 years of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Argentina do not mark an end, but rather lay the foundation for a new phase of cooperation, more balanced, more ambitious, and resolutely focused on sustainable development and shared prosperity.
For his part, Mariano Simon Padros, Director of Economic Relations with Africa and the Middle East at Argentina’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented an overview of trade exchanges between Argentina and Morocco.
He highlighted the steady and sustained growth of bilateral economic relations, which, in his view, “reflect the strength and potential of a partnership based on the complementarity of both economies.”
Padros recalled that trade exchanges have accelerated in recent years, driven by the diversification of exported products and a more structured economic dialogue between Buenos Aires and Rabat. This dynamic, he said, has made Morocco Argentina’s second trading partner in Africa and the third destination for its exports on the continent.
Source: map
