Why Morocco is a Key Player in China’s Belt and Road Initiative
By Chasya Cohen
Introduction
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a Chinese-led economic and infrastructure project spanning the globe. Since Morocco joined this innovative project in 2017, Sino-Moroccan relations have substantially improved. The BRI in Morocco is mutually beneficial for both states involved; not only will Morocco’s economy and politics benefit, as the BRI simultaneously develops Morocco’s industry and the strength of its political alliance with China, but introducing the BRI in Morocco is a strategic move on China’s part. Since Morocco sits at the top of Africa and just under Europe, the country is geographically well-situated for China’s project. Morocco’s economy is quickly developing, giving rise to potential economic opportunities for China. Additionally, Morocco’s strong bonds with the West, and particularly with the United States, as well as the country's rich phosphate resources make it a prime partner for China. Finally, China can easily exercise influence over Morocco because the two countries’ regimes are compatible. Because China is wealthy and prosperous, it can act as a model to improve Morocco’s economy. Morocco is therefore a key member of the BRI and all for which it stands.
Introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative
The BRI, often referred to as the New Silk Road, was launched in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The name is a reference to the two goals of the initiative: the economic “belt” references trade routes and the “road” refers to infrastructure routes, which will connect China to the rest of the world. The initiative was created as a part of China’s “Major Country Diplomacy” strategy, which aims to expand the country’s influence in proportion to its growing significance in global politics. In effect, this is a “win-win” operation: China invests in improving countries’ economies and infrastructure which will, in turn, allow for China to grow its political power.
The Belt and Road Initiative in Morocco
There are currently 151 countries affiliated with the BRI, although not all have ongoing projects. Membership spans across Western Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and some of Latin America. The BRI is targeted specifically at developing states in need of infrastructure improvements and economic assistance. For this reason, the BRI has been particularly popular in African countries, of which fifty-three have agreed to join the initiative. Morocco was one of the first countries to join the BRI in 2017. This partnership culminated in a trade expansion of about 50 percent between the two countries and, as of 2022, a USD 380 million direct investment in Morocco. The BRI in Morocco would aid infrastructure improvements, including a high-speed railway network connecting Marrakech and Agadir, with the possibility of expanding to Tangier in the North and to the Western Sahara in the South. Morocco plans to finish railway construction by 2030, in time to host the FIFA World Cup, but has not yet confirmed China’s involvement. Additionally, Chinese investments will be vital to the construction of a new Tangier Tech City in Ain Dalia, which is being touted as the “Shanghai of North-Africa”. This project is set to be completed by 2027. In terms of trade, imports from China have steadily increased since Morocco signed onto the BRI, momentarily surpassing those from France between 2020 and 2022. The BRI promises to catalyze the development of the Moroccan market as well as the country’s regional influence. These improvements will in turn advance Morocco’s standing on the global stage, but in accordance with the “win-win” ideology of the initiative, such substantial investment in Morocco suggests that China will also benefit from this venture.
Morocco’s Strategic Location
Morocco bridges the geographical and political gap between Africa and Europe, rendering it a particularly strategically useful member of China’s BRI. The Maghreb sits on the southern Mediterranean coast, acting as a barrier between Europe and the rest of Africa.Given its location directly south of Spain, Morocco plays a particularly key role in bridging Western Africa and Western Europe. With China’s aim to build connections to the rest of the world, this location will be vital to realizing the intent of the New Silk Road project’s goal. While China was previously focused on securing the Horn of Africa and East Africa in order to build a maritime route from the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal, China shifted its focus toward West Africa once this was completed. Western Europe, on the other hand, is much harder for China’s BRI to recruit due to strict European Union regulations and increasing political opposition toward China in the region. Therefore Morocco’s strategic location is a particularly significant factor to China’s BRI as it can serve as a gateway to these otherwise inaccessible regional targets.
Morocco’s Economic Potential
In exchange for BRI investment within Morocco, China is promised growth opportunities, influence, and the economic benefits in the region. Morocco’s economy has rapidly developed since the country’s independence. According to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Database, Morocco is considered to be an emerging market and middle-income economy. Relative to many other countries involved in the BRI, Morocco is more economically developed. Thus, Morocco’s current economic goals are to improve and modernize its industrial sector in an attempt to surpass its economic competitors, including the Arab Gulf states. In line with this goal, China’s BRI must focus on refining Morocco’s economy using Chinese technology. This will be beneficial to China because it will allow the country to diversify its economic ventures. An example of such an effort is Morocco’s new Tangier Tech City, which is a part of China’s so-called “Digital Silk Road” initiative. The city will house around 200 Chinese companies, promising countless employment opportunities to Chinese citizens and officials. Building this Tech City will also increase China’s influence by providing Morocco with new technology, including cybersecurity and surveillance technology. Ultimately, this will be advantageous for China, as it will result in a Moroccan state that is not just more welcoming, but also more dependent upon China's economy and Chinese technology.
Morocco’s Significant Geopolitical Standing
A BRI alliance with Morocco also presents an opportunity for China to expand its political influence in an otherwise skeptical diplomatic bloc. Not only is Morocco a member of the African Union and a well-regarded political actor in African politics, as well as an Arab League member with strong ties to the Gulf monarchies, but the country also has positive connections to many Western nations, like the United States. Currently, the geopolitical world is divided into two poles–one of majority-Western U.S. allies and one of the majority-Eastern Chinese allies. It is vital for each bloc to expand their diplomatic relations, thereby expanding their power. Such foreign diplomacy, after all, is the very reason for the creation of the BRI. It is especially important for China to recruit “swing states” whose allegiance to one side is not necessarily loyal. “Swing states” are targeted not only for political reasons, but also because they may hold economic value or have vital resources. Morocco houses over 70 percent of the world’s phosphate reserves, followed by China at 6 percent, granting it “competitive advantage in a critical aspect of global supply chains”. Phosphate is a vital ingredient in fertilizers and can be turned into phosphoric acid, which is used in electronics, cosmetics, cleaning products, and more. But instead of competing with Morocco to dominate the phosphate trade, in 2018 China’s Hubei Forbon announced a collaboration with Morocco’s Office Cherifien des Phosphate to develop eco-friendly fertilizers. China is effectively making an ally of a competitor while expanding its involvement in the global phosphate market. By forming an economic alliance with Morocco, China is expanding its geopolitical bloc.
Morocco’s Compatibility with China
Influenceability is also a key factor in China’s BRI partnership: in order for China to reach its goal of expanding its political power, it must target countries that it can influence. Exercising political influence is much easier when countries are compatible and trust one another. In many ways, King Mohammed VI’s Morocco operates similarly to Xi’s China. Both countries have authoritarian regimes stabilized by checks and balances. While China’s congressional elections consist of only pre-approved candidates, Morocco’s parliamentary elections consist of only pre-approved parties. The similarities might allow the two countries to better trust one another. In addition to its political structure, Morocco’s economic potential presents further opportunity for China to expand its power. Through implementing the BRI, China is teaching the Moroccan economy Chinese systems and strategies. This is beneficial to Morocco, which would be learning how to realize similar economic success to that of China,and to China, which would be teaching and therefore exercising influence over the Moroccan apparatus.
Conclusion
China’s BRI in Morocco epitomizes the project’s “win-win” objective. This partnership is not just beneficial to Morocco’s economy and infrastructure, but is also vital to China’s political goals. Morocco’s geographical location, economy, political standings, and regime make it an ideal candidate for the BRI. The Sino-Moroccan partnership is thereby a demonstration of China’s smart power; China builds a pragmatic relationship with Morocco to advance its own national interest. The ultimate goal of the BRI is to expand China’s hegemonic power, and Morocco is a means by which China will reach this goal.
Chasya Cohen grew up in Hong Kong amidst pro-democracy protests which ignited her passion for understanding global dynamics. Currently studying International Relations, French and Francophone Culture, and Philosophy at Tufts University, Chasya brings a unique perspective to her writing. Having spent the last semester in Rabat studying French and Arabic while reporting for an online Moroccan newspaper, she blends personal experience with academic rigor to explore the intricate intersections of Sino-Moroccan relations. Through her writing and analysis, Chasya aims to shed light on the economic, political, and cultural implications of China's expanding presence in Morocco.
“Morocco” is by Simon King and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
