Navigating Foreign Policy Priorities: Leader Diplomacy of Morocco in the Period of King Mohammed VI

Abstract

This study investigates the drivers of Morocco’s foreign policy under King Mohammed VI by systematically analyzing high-level leader visits from 1999 to 2023. While existing research on Moroccan diplomacy remains largely qualitative, this study offers the first empirical test of widely cited foreign policy priorities—economic development, regional engagement, and territorial integrity—using an original dataset and logistic regression models. By quantifying the relative influence of economic ties, regional affiliations, and recognition of Moroccan claims over Western Sahara, the study advances the emerging literature on leader-level diplomacy and demonstrates how visit patterns reflect broader strategic objectives. The findings reveal that economic partnerships and territorial recognition are the most consistent determinants of Moroccan leader visits, offering a data-driven contribution to understanding the country’s foreign policy orientation.