Idris Qurash: Morocco Attends Moscow Summit on Interests, Not Alignment

Morocco’s participation in the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow reflects a Kingdom that deals with major powers on the basis of shared interests rather than allegiance to any single camp, retired diplomat Idris Qurash said in an interview with al3omk.com.

The summit, held in the Russian capital on October 28 and 29 under the slogan “For Peace, Security and Development”, brought together African delegations and senior figures. Head of Government Fatima Zahra Mansouri represented His Majesty King Mohammed VI, a choice Qurash, a retired Minister Plenipotentiary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described as reflecting a clear awareness of the shifts under way in the international order.

Africa at the centre of rivalry

Qurash linked the meeting’s importance to accelerating global change and intensifying competition among major powers for a foothold in Africa, which he said has become a central factor in international calculations. This is happening, he noted, as long-standing alliances such as NATO and the European Union are weakening.

Morocco’s presence should be read strategically rather than as a protocol exercise, he argued, since it bears on the Kingdom’s standing in world affairs and its prospects on the continent. Representing His Majesty the King carries political and institutional weight, he added, and widens Morocco’s room to manoeuvre in forums tied to its interests without affecting relations with its traditional allies.

The retired diplomat placed the Moscow meeting in a sequence that began in Sochi in 2019 and continued in Saint Petersburg in 2023. Through this process, he said, Russia seeks a regular framework for its African ties and wants to appear as a reliable partner in military cooperation, food and energy security, and as a supporter of African demands to reform international institutions. In that context, he believes the Kingdom has priority for a permanent seat representing Africa on the UN Security Council once the United Nations’ structures are reformed.

Friends, allies and partners

Drawing on some 35 years spent in countries of the former Soviet Union, Qurash told al3omk.com that Russians draw a sharp line between a friend, an ally and a trading partner, and regard friendship as “a sacred bond”.

“They understand very well that international relations are built on credibility and trust, which is why Algeria is a partner but not a friend.”

Since the Soviet Union broke up, he said, that friendship has been limited to very few countries, among them Morocco and Vietnam. He also referred to Unity Day, saying Moroccans’ attachment to their land is especially visible among Moroccans living abroad, and that Russians praise this attachment when they meet members of the Moroccan community.

Ties dating back to 1772

Qurash traced the relationship to an agreement concluded in 1772 between Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah and Empress Catherine II. One article allowed Morocco to bury sailors from Russian merchant ships on its soil, as Orthodox custom forbids casting bodies into the sea, something the Ottomans refused in territories under their control.

Morocco opened two cemeteries, in Rabat and Casablanca, and the Kingdom’s first Orthodox church was built in the Diour Jamaa district. He said the memory of that gesture has remained deeply rooted among Orthodox believers.

In the modern era, he recalled the 1966 visit of His Late Majesty King Hassan II to the Soviet Union, which led to a partnership in scientific and academic cooperation. Moscow, whether Soviet or Russian, has never voted against Morocco at the United Nations despite sharp East-West polarisation, Qurash said, pointing to opportunities to expand cooperation in fisheries, agriculture, industry and technology.