9/7/2025–|Last update: 11:12 (Mecca time)
Ligament– At the heart of a very sensitive geopolitical equation, Morocco finds itself in front of an accurate test imposed on the management of a strategic balance between two global powers that are fighting economic and technological influence, the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China.
His geographical location between Europe and Africa and the Atlantic Ocean not only gives him geographical value, but also puts it in the range of the rival rivalry between two poles, each of whom seeks to extend its influence in the continent.
Strategic location amid the influence race
Morocco is living in the rhythm of the escalation of economic competition between Washington and Beijing, and it is an escalation that has gained renewed momentum with Donald Trump’s return to the White House and imposing more customs duties within what is known as the policy of “American economic liberation”.
Official figures highlight the extent of Moroccan commercial interests with both powers: trade exchanges between Morocco and the United States reached more than 72 billion dirhams (7.2 billion dollars) in 2024, according to a report issued by the American Trade Delegate.
As for foreign direct investments in the Kingdom during the same year, it reached 16.4 billion dirhams (1.6 billion dollars), in which the United States came second after Europe, ahead of China, according to the Global Investment Report for 2025.
On the other hand, the report of the African Society for China Cooperation for Development indicates that trade exchanges between Rabat and Beijing amounted to 90 billion dirhams (9 billion dollars) in 2024, and a report issued by the Green Finance and Development Center in China indicated that Beijing’s investments in Africa reached 48 billion dollars in 2023, with a strong presence in Morocco, Kenya and Nigeria.
The most striking, that the percentage of China’s investments in Morocco recorded in 2024 a huge leap of 724%, which reflects an increasingly Chinese interest in strengthening the relationship with Rabat.
Various visions of partnership paths
Strategic reading is unanimously agreed that the ligament does not view the United States and China with the alignment of the alignment, but rather from a pragmatic angle governed by national interests and development approaches. Strategic expert Hisham Mu’tadid believes that China is seeking to enhance its influence through the “Belt and Road” project, in which Morocco is an advanced logistical and commercial platform, while Washington relies on more cautious tools such as economic diplomacy, support for entrepreneurship, and financing local development programs.
In a statement to Al -Jazeera Net, Mu’tazud adds that the race between the two powers in Africa re -draws the map of international balances, as the United States views Morocco as a strategic ally and a regional stability pillar, because it is linked to the Atlantic and Mediterranean space, while China is betting on long -term investments to establish its presence.
On the other hand, political analyst Khaled Shiat asserts that the Moroccan balance must be read outside the concepts of the Cold War and its polarization, saying: “The intertwining of economic and financial interests between the major powers goes beyond strategic speeches, even the countries that may seem support for one of the two parties, such as Europe, Latin America or the BRICS countries, are linked by interfering interests with both sides.”
Shiat concludes by saying that Morocco is not required to show absolute loyalty to any party, but rather with a smart and balanced administration for its relations, the independence of its decision and the maximity of its development gains.
Flexible partnerships and multiple axes
Depending on its quiet diplomacy, Morocco continues to weave a network of multiple partnerships with both major and emerging powers. The professor of international relations and international law, Jamal Ait Laham, says that the Kingdom views with a pragmatic eye its relations with Washington and Beijing, considering the first a traditional partner in the areas of security, defense and technology, and the second is a promising economic partner in the areas of infrastructure, industry and renewable energies.
Ait indicates that Morocco is seeking to devote the independence of its political decision by expanding its partnerships with forces such as India, Russia and Turkey, and to enhance its presence in international organizations, as well as launching African reference initiatives, such as a gas pipeline with Nigeria, and the Atlantic Port Project.
For his part, economic analyst Amin Sami explains that Morocco is good at interacting with the short and medium-term capital-especially in the technology and services sector-in parallel with the absorption of Chinese investments of a long-term nature, as in the “Tangier-Tik” project.
He adds that Rabat is aware of the geopolitical character of the Belt and Road Initiative, and thus deals with China with caution to avoid dependency, while it employs its geographical and security location in its relations with Washington to extract clear economic privileges, such as preferential financing and recognition of its logistical role.
The role of a growing logistical in supply chains
In the context of competition for maritime influence and supply chains, Morocco and the United States signed on June 17, 2025 new agreements within the container security initiative to enhance maritime shipping security in accordance with American customs interests. At the same time, China praised, during the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, the capabilities of the Tangier Mediterranean Port for supporting Chinese commercial flows towards Europe.
This port – which turned into a global logistical knot – recorded in 2024 records of 10.24 million stereotypes, an increase of 18.8% from 2023, according to official reports. Amin Sami believes that these achievements are not a coincidence, but rather strategic measures adopted by Morocco, including improving the business climate, simplifying customs procedures, promoting the dirt mark “made in Morocco”, and launching a new investment charter.
For his part, a moderator considers that the Moroccan bet is not limited to trade and logistics, but also includes clean energy as a future lever, which gives the Kingdom new negotiation papers with international partners committed to environmental standards.
Digital challenge and the issue of technical sovereignty
As part of his future vision, Morocco seeks to strengthen its digital and technological sovereignty as part of its strategy in achieving balance with the major powers. The Moroccan Minister of Industry stressed the need to build an independent national technological sector that guarantees data security and protects privacy.
Khaled Shiat believes that this path is fraught with complex challenges, the most important of which is the cost of digital independence, and the great powers of the power of an independent technician of the emerging countries. He added that Morocco is still at the beginning of the path of scientific research and the development of training institutions, amid the challenges of mind migration that threaten the sustainability of competencies.
But Ait for an members indicates that Morocco is working to diversify technology providers to avoid digital dependency, and launched a national strategy for digital transformation that includes localization of data centers, protecting personal data, and securing government information. The Kingdom also seeks to create schools and institutes specialized in artificial intelligence, huge data, and cybersecurity, in parallel with the support of startups and international educational partnerships.
Diplomacy is cautiously fraught
At a time characterized by the volatility of alliances and the escalation of geopolitical polarization, Morocco practices a “dance on a tight rope”, based on diplomatic pragmatism and the ability to diversify partners without slipping into the orbit of any force.
While China and America seek to extend their influence through investments, logistics and technology, the greatest Moroccan challenge remains the preservation of the independence of the decision and the flexibility of the movement, in a world that only recognizes interests.