In a world where crises intersect, respond to each other, and reshape the balances, where exactly does Morocco stand? How does it fit in, and what responses does it provide to these transformations? These questions, crucial in a context of international turmoil, structured the intervention of the guest at the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences of Rabat. Indeed, it was around these questions that Lamia Radi, Morocco’s ambassador to Norway, articulated her views. From the start, the diplomat described a fragmented world marked by persistent tensions and continuous recompositions. And it is within this challenging context that Morocco deploys responses that take into account both external and internal factors.
An environment of ongoing tension
For the diplomat, there is now a well-established reality: that of an international system plagued by multiple crises. From the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the war in Ukraine, and the tensions in Yemen, Syria, or the Horn of Africa, the overall landscape is characterized by lasting instability. In this context, Morocco is not a direct actor in these conflicts. However, it directly feels their effects. “These conflicts are not ours, but they have a direct impact on us,” she emphasized, mentioning the “increase in energy prices” and “the rise in raw materials, notably wheat.” Consequently, foreign policy does not operate in a neutral space. It unfolds in a constrained environment, where external developments require constant adjustments – where, as a result, “the ability to anticipate becomes central.”
Rising transnational threats
To this conflictual environment adds a second level of analysis, more diffuse but equally decisive. It relates to the inherent nature of transnational threats, as defined by the ambassador as “a problem that cannot be resolved at the scale of a single country.” Other factors also disrupt the landscape of international relations. Terrorism, arms, drug trafficking, and human trafficking are no longer isolated phenomena. They are now part of interconnected logics driven by networks whose power can rival that of states. “Criminal networks sometimes have a turnover higher than the GDP of certain countries,” she underscored, mentioning their “capacity for political destabilization.” Migration issues exemplify this, indicating a profound shift in dynamics where networks intersect and reinforce each other, leading to an “economy of violence” that transcends borders and complicates state responses even more.
Regional environment under vigilance
In the immediate neighborhood of Morocco, persistent instability demands sustained attention. Algeria is referenced for its “capacity to cause harm,” necessitating “continuous vigilance” in return. Libya, on the other hand, illustrates the consequences of prolonged state collapse, paving the way for the expansion of militias and trafficking. Further south, in the Sahelian region, connections between armed groups and criminal networks further complicate already precarious balances. Amid this clarity, Mrs. Radi asserts that “Diplomacy is a permanent war. Peace is the moment between two wars.” In this hostile landscape, she reminds that “We have neither oil, gas, nor abundant natural resources,” pointing out persistent unemployment and a growth rate insufficient to fully address employment needs. These constraints add to an even more structural reality: an economy under pressure with limited margins against social demands and the evolving international environment.
Institutional continuity as an asset
Faced with these challenges, Morocco boasts a significant asset: its institutional architecture. “Our greatest asset is governance,” she affirmed, highlighting how the Monarchy enables long-term projections while ensuring stability and continuity. In an international environment marked by political changes and strategic shifts, institutional continuity takes on a unique significance. It allows actions to be anchored in the long term, drive structuring projects, and ensure their realization across political cycles. This capacity for projection is not founded on a single lever but around three complementary areas – the army, intelligence services, and diplomacy. The professional military confers an anticipatory capacity, intelligence services’ efficiency in acknowledged international cooperation, and an active diplomacy that extends beyond formal exchanges to analyze and weigh security, strategic, and political stakes better safeguarding national interests.
Diplomatic “layered cake”
To describe Morocco’s actions, Mrs. Radi employs a metaphorical formula, citing the “layered cake strategy.” According to her, “Morocco doesn’t discard its strategies; it layers them.” Firstly, a constant presence in various international arenas – “We are everywhere,” she emphasized, implying that presence conditions the ability to exist and influence. Secondly, diversifying partnerships – “We never put all our eggs in one basket,” she stressed, expanding relations beyond traditional alliances in a controlled openness logic. Concerning bilateral relations, they are approached differentially, tailored to each partner’s specific needs, notably in Africa, fostering cooperation in an adaptive manner. “We are no longer just managers; we are a force for proposition,” she pointed out, signifying a shift in Morocco’s positioning from adaptation to initiative.
Morocco, a trusted mediator
Leveraging its accomplishments and credibility, Moroccan diplomacy assumes a unique role: that of a mediator. “Morocco is a broker, a trusted intermediary,” she asserted, underlining that “trust alone conditions the possibility of dialogue between actors who often no longer communicate.” This role plays out in various contexts. In Libya, for instance, Morocco facilitated the reunification of antagonistic parties, alongside concrete engagement in peacekeeping operations. For these reasons, “Morocco becomes a go-to interlocutor,” she stressed. As traditional channels narrow and balances become harder to maintain, Morocco emerges as a trusted mediator. In conclusion, Mrs. Radi brings the discussion back to the core, stating that in an uncertain environment, Morocco does not merely adapt to external evolutions; it engages in a dynamic process of accumulation and projection, progressively delineating its capacity for influence.
