Morocco–Syria relations refers to bilateral and political ties between Morocco and Syria. Both are members of the United Nations, Arab League, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Syria had an embassy in Rabat. Morocco is represented in Syria through its embassy in Damascus.
Both countries share a common history: they were formerly colonized by the Roman Empire, and later Arab conquests that saw both Morocco and Syria became Arab Muslim countries. However, Morocco became an independent kingdom while Syria became part of the Ottoman Empire until both were again together occupied by France.[1]
Morocco and Syria established diplomatics relations upon the withdrawal of France from Morocco in 1956.[2] However, Syria was later met with political turmoil, as the wave of pan-Arabism and anti-Israeli sentiment was on the rise. This fervour soon reached Morocco, but unlike Syria, Morocco was able to stand its ground. This was the initial cause of the tensions between the countries.[3]
Moroccan-Syrian tensions soon erupted, with Morocco siding with the West and Syria, whilst the United Arab Republic, sided with Algeria during the Sand War. Since then, Syria had a distrust for Morocco due to its close ties with the West, particularly, the United States and Israel and they often had limited cooperation. In 1965, Moroccan King Hassan II allegedly invited Mossad and Shin Bet agents to record the Arab League's meeting in Casablanca, which was instrumental in leading to the Six-Day War and Syrian defeat.[4] Relations improved slightly when Morocco sent troops to help its Arab allies, including Syria, during the 1973 Yom Kippur War;[5] this slight improvement, however, did not last long.
However, Syria supported the Polisario against the Moroccans during Western Sahara War from 1975, angering Morocco, which was later admitted by Bashar al-Assad over Syria's efforts to help Polisario militants fighting Royal Moroccan Armed Forces in 2013.[6] Relations were strained further by Hafez al-Assad's decision in 1986 to cut ties with Morocco after Hassan II held a secret meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.[7]
Morocco would remain in tensions with Syria throughout the rest of both leaders' reigns, and their relations have little improved since the deaths of both Hafez al-Assad and Hassan II.
The outbreak of civil war in Syria once again strained relations, with Morocco supporting the Syrian opposition against the government of Syria and hosting a meeting of anti-Assad coalition members in 2012 and 2013.[8] Morocco has attempted to distance from the conflict and endorsed a political solution instead of military intervention. The Syrian ambassador was expelled in 2012 in a move of protest by Morocco, while the Syrian government likewise accused Morocco of financing and helping the Free Syrian Army.[9]
While Morocco maintains supportive of Syrian refugees, cases like Syrians trapped between Algerian–Moroccan border also gave concerns to Moroccan authorities.[10]
In 2019, due to the changing tide in favor to Damascus, Morocco opted to secure a position that would accept Syria's return to Arab League;[11] but tensions between both countries developed by historical mistrusts still play a role on hampering its development.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia and UAE led the initiative to restore Syria's participation in the Arab League, which was initially rejected by Morocco due to Syria's support for the Polisario.[12]
Nevertheless, on 7 May 2023, following the decision of the Council of the Arab League to reactivate Syria's membership, foreign minister Nasser Bourita voiced Morocco’s support to the efforts made in this regard by Saudi Arabia.[13] Bourita recalled the historical ties between Morocco and Syria and affirmed that King Mohammed VI follows closely the Syrian crisis and its impacts on countries of the region.[13]
In June 2023, on the sidelines of the 13th conference of Arab ministers of education organized by the ALESCO, Minister of Education Dr. Darem Tabbaa met with his counterpart Chakib Benmoussa.[14] It was the first meeting between a Syrian and Moroccan official since 2011.
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