A new era of cooperation is opening between Tallinn and Rabat. The Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs has just completed a decisive working visit. During his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, on Monday, October 21, Margus Tsahkna affirmed his country’s desire to further advance the development of bilateral relations at all levels. In doing so, he reaffirmed the Estonian authorities' support for Morocco's autonomy plan, marking a significant first in the Baltic region. L'Observateur du Maroc, Pouvoirs d’Afrique, Powers of Africa, and Medradio interviewed the Estonian Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, shortly after his meeting with Nasser Bourita. Here are his responses in the video, along with a transcript of extensive excerpts.
How does Estonia view the strengthening of its bilateral relations and partnership with the Kingdom?
We have maintained a partnership with Morocco for over 30 years. The Kingdom is not only a strategic partner of the European Union, of which we have been a member for 20 years, but it is also an ally of NATO. Moreover, Morocco serves as a gateway to Africa, making our collaboration all the more significant. One of the key areas we are focusing on is digitalization. Estonia is one of the most advanced countries in the world in this field, with 99% of our public services being digitalized. This is work we have been doing for over 20 years, and today, with Morocco having launched just three weeks ago a very ambitious digital strategy for the next six years, we have agreed that Estonia will be a partner in this area. We have reached a mutual agreement on how we can share our expertise and collaborate in ways that will benefit both our countries. For example, while Estonia lacks highly skilled engineers, Morocco has plenty. This creates an excellent opportunity for practical cooperation, where we can combine efforts, share knowledge, and create jobs.
The question of the Moroccan Sahara is fundamental to Morocco’s foreign policy. How does Estonia approach this question?
We are here to firmly declare our support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. Our position has already been communicated to the United Nations Secretary-General. We have made a clear decision regarding this specific plan that we support, as it offers a peaceful solution. It is a significant step forward, and we rely on Morocco's plan to achieve lasting peace in the region.
How do you see the future of political exchanges between the two countries?
In the Estonian parliament, we already have a friendship group with Morocco, which visited the country last year. This parliamentary dialogue is crucial for both sides. In my experience, such political relations are long-lasting because we share more in common than we may think. One thing I can assure you is that all Estonians know where Morocco is, who you are, and how important you are to us. Morocco is our key partner in Africa, and it is where everything begins for us on the continent.
