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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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<\/a> once the United Nations’ structures are reformed.<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n “They understand very well that international relations are built on credibility and trust, which is why Algeria is a partner but not a friend.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\nFriends, allies and partners<\/h2>\n