A Newsweek report sheds light on the reasons behind China’s increasing focus on Morocco, following President Xi Jinping’s recent technical stopover in the country during his South American tour. The report reveals that China seeks to incorporate Morocco into its sphere of influence, leveraging its strategic location for access to major global markets.
The first reason is Morocco’s unique trade relationships spanning three continents: Europe, North America, and Africa. This provides China, a trade-driven economy, with a backdoor to key markets.
The second motive is geopolitical. Controlling Morocco offers Beijing influence over the western Mediterranean, aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative’s ambitions to dominate global trade routes. The report highlights past warnings about strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Gibraltar, emphasizing their role in China’s long-term vision.
Amid rising global protectionism, China has turned to Morocco as a manufacturing hub. In 2024 alone, Chinese firms committed over $4 billion to build factories producing electric vehicle components, underscoring Morocco’s growing strategic importance in Beijing’s plans.
