On Thursday, Morocco and the United States formally established a comprehensive roadmap for defense cooperation, spanning from 2026 to 2036, with the primary objective of strengthening military collaboration between the two nations. This significant agreement was announced following a signing ceremony attended by Abdellatif Loudiyi, the Moroccan Minister Delegate in charge of National Defense Administration, and Elbridge Colby, a senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Defense on political affairs.
The signing took place during the 14th session of the Moroccan-American Defense Consultative Committee, which commenced on Tuesday in Washington and concluded on Thursday, as detailed in a statement released by the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco. During the discussions, both parties exchanged insights on ways to enhance and expand their cooperation to incorporate new domains, such as defense industry and cybersecurity, acknowledging the growing importance of these sectors in light of the increasing and diversifying security threats that both countries face.
The statement emphasized that this visit marked a significant strategic milestone, as Moroccan officials received a high-level welcome from U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. During their meeting, they engaged in discussions aimed at bolstering and elevating bilateral relations, particularly concerning defense, the defense industry, and cybersecurity initiatives.
The meetings between the two sides also covered various aspects of military cooperation, where notable achievements were recorded in several partnership areas between the Moroccan armed forces and their American counterparts. This includes training initiatives, knowledge exchange, and the organization of large-scale joint exercises, such as the African Lion exercise, along with discussions surrounding military capabilities and equipment.
The African Lion exercises first commenced in 2007, and they take place annually, drawing participation from both African and European nations. In some instances, more than one iteration of these exercises is conducted within a single year. Furthermore, on October 2, 2020, Washington and Rabat signed a ten-year agreement aimed at reinforcing military cooperation, which was part of a visit to Morocco by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
As reported by aa.com.tr.
