China in the Maghreb: Morocco, Power & the New North African Equation

China’s deepening engagement with Morocco marks a strategic inflection point in North Africa’s geopolitical landscape. China in the Maghreb is a Global Eye Intelligence assessment that unpacks how Beijing is quietly expanding its political, economic, and strategic footprint across the region—using Morocco as a gateway to Africa, the Arab world, and the Mediterranean.

The report analyses the evolution of China–Morocco relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties, highlighting the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in infrastructure development, manufacturing relocation, and trade corridor expansion. It explains why Morocco’s political stability, labour advantages, and strategic geography make it an attractive partner for China’s long-term global ambitions.

Crucially, the report situates this partnership within the Western Sahara dispute, outlining how China’s growing influence could reshape regional rivalries involving Algeria, Western actors, and multilateral mediation efforts. Scenario analysis evaluates escalation risks, diplomatic realignments, and the possibility of China emerging as a key power broker in the Maghreb.

Great-power influence rarely arrives with confrontation—it embeds itself through trade, infrastructure, and quiet diplomacy. Those who track China’s Maghreb strategy early will recognise Africa’s next geopolitical shift before it becomes obvious. Follow Global Eye Intelligence to stay ahead of under-the-radar power moves shaping regional and global order.