Morocco and Saudi Arabia Enhance Defense Cooperation Following a Royal Communication
The recent diplomatic dialogue between Morocco and Saudi Arabia has seen a significant uptick following a message from King Mohammed VI. On Monday, Khalid Ben Salman, the Saudi Minister of Defense, engaged in a pivotal phone conversation with Abdellatif Loudiyi, the Moroccan Minister Delegate to the National Defense Administration. The discussions primarily focused on strategies to bolster defense cooperation between the two nations, aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of their leadership and ensuring regional security and stability amidst current geopolitical shifts.
This dialogue comes on the heels of King Mohammed VI's message addressed to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wherein he expressed Morocco's unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The message highlighted the challenges facing the Kingdom, particularly the attacks emanating from Yemen by Houthi forces, which are reportedly backed by Iran, targeting significant sites in Mecca and Medina. King Mohammed VI condemned these "despicable and desperate attacks" that threaten the safety and stability of the Saudi populace, emphasizing that such aggressions are not only hostile acts against Saudi Arabia but also an affront to over 1.8 billion Muslims globally.
Furthermore, the Moroccan monarch underscored the strategic importance of the ties between Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The military collaboration between Rabat and Riyadh has been formalized through various defense agreements, notably since Morocco's integration into the Saudi-led Islamic coalition in Yemen in 2015, which involved the deployment of F-16 fighter jets to combat Houthi forces. This partnership illustrates the deepening military and strategic relationship between the two nations, essential for addressing regional threats and ensuring mutual security.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
