Why did Wilhelm II visit Tangier in 1905?

Emperor Wilhelm II visited Tangier on March 31, 1905, as a dramatic display of imperial power intended to challenge France’s growing influence in Morocco.12

Following the 1904 Entente Cordiale, in which Britain agreed to support French interests in Morocco, Germany sought to assert its own economic rights and insist upon an open-door policy in the region. By publicly declaring his support for Moroccan independence and the sovereignty of the sultan, Wilhelm II aimed to undermine the new Anglo-French partnership, hoping to demonstrate that Britain was of no value as an ally to France.132

Ultimately, this maneuver—which triggered the First Moroccan Crisis—failed to achieve its strategic goals. At the subsequent Algeciras Conference in 1906, Germany found itself diplomatically isolated, as major powers including Britain and the United States supported France, forcing Germany to accept French predominance in the region.23