At the north-west corner of Africa, just 15 km from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco has a strategically important location and for centuries has been a blend of cultures. Arab, Berber, European and African influences are all part of the country’s unique heritage, which has become famous worldwide thanks to millennia of trade, and in more recent centuries, both the Moroccan diaspora and the millions of tourists who visit annually.
Morocco is North Africa’s only monarchy and has both one of its most stable and most inclusive political systems. The country’s long tradition as an international trading centre continues, with a relatively open economy that has drawn in foreign investment and become one of Europe’s major trading partners in Africa.
Diplomatically, Morocco’s pragmatic approach has won it a range of allies and partnerships, from its strong commercial and security ties with the EU to a burgeoning relationship with China and the Gulf countries.