For his first public appearance as France’s ambassador to Morocco, Philippe Lalliot chose the stage of the Paris Peace Forum spring meeting, held in Rabat on June 4-5, 2026, at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). This address came one day after presenting his credentials to the King.

Facing the deepening of crises and shockwaves that spare no nation today, Lalliot clarified the relevance of multilateral rules. “International law is not dead. Its founding principles are just. It must be defended on principle, because it is precisely the shield of those who have none,” he stated, emphasizing its role as a common good.

For the diplomat, international law still constitutes “the condition for peace, stability, and security for the greatest number.”

“We are here in the right place, at the right time, and in good company to reflect precisely on the ways and means by which we can together ensure that these great upheavals and transitions are subject to concrete, realistic, and adapted solutions,” he argued, advocating for “transforming our hopes and ambitions into projects and actions.”

The ambassador underscored that reflection on major global imbalances and the definition of solutions to address them are “at the heart of the exceptional partnership that unites France and Morocco.”

For Lalliot, this “Franco-Moroccan method” is destined to inspire others. “I am convinced that our two countries, through their shared history, but also through the common vision they have of these issues and of the future, have a responsibility to set an example,” he said, adding that this responsibility involves gathering broadly, especially ahead of important bilateral or multilateral deadlines.

He illustrated his point with the first project realized since taking office. “Two days ago, alongside the Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Water, and my German, Italian, and European counterparts, we launched a vast program of nearly 350 million euros aimed at supporting Morocco’s national water management strategy.”

Strategic for Morocco’s water sovereignty, this project aims at better knowledge of water resources, particularly groundwater tables, coordinated management of climate-related water phenomena—especially floods—and other initiatives such as wastewater reuse.

As debates conclude in Rabat on energy and food security—topics that will be central to the G7 in Évian from June 15 to 17—France and Morocco are preparing a new cooperation framework whose realization is imminent.