Morocco and India Take Major Steps in Military Partnership
On September 8, 2023, the inaugural meeting of the Joint Defense Committee (JDC) between Morocco and India took place in New Delhi, marking a significant advancement in military collaboration between the two nations. The primary objective of this meeting was to institutionalize military dialogue and to outline new avenues for collaboration. Co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, the Deputy Secretary for International Cooperation at the Indian Ministry of Defence, and Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani, head of the Second Bureau of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the discussions focused on a variety of key areas.
Among the topics explored were military training and education, peacekeeping operations, military exercises, military medicine, cyber defense, and the defense industry. Both countries expressed a keen interest in investigating opportunities for co-production, establishing joint ventures, enhancing technological cooperation, as well as maintenance and support for military equipment. A highlight of the Moroccan delegation’s visit was a tour of the DPSU Bhawan, where they gained insights into India's defense manufacturing capabilities, as reported by h24info.ma.
This new direction could significantly advance the bilateral relationship towards a more integrated industrial cooperation framework. Morocco has already gained initial experience in this domain through its partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Morocco (TASM), which produces WhAP 8×8 armored vehicles in Berrechid for the FAR and potential African markets. The factory, inaugurated in September 2025, is part of Morocco's strategy to enhance its industrial and technological autonomy in the defense sector.
New Defense Cooperation Framework Between Morocco and India
The establishment of the Joint Defense Committee stems directly from a memorandum of understanding signed in Rabat in September 2025 during the visit of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. This agreement laid the groundwork for cooperation in defense industry, joint exercises, training, and capability development. It also encompasses areas such as counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defense, peacekeeping operations, expert exchanges, and military medicine.
Military medicine, in particular, is one of the new areas of cooperation being developed between Rabat and New Delhi. The Moroccan delegation's itinerary, which includes a trip to India from September 7 to 10, features a visit to the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) to explore Indian capabilities in this field.
With the inaugural meeting of the Joint Defense Committee now behind them, Rabat and New Delhi, which will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, have established a permanent structure to coordinate their exchanges and pave the way for collaboration across various sectors.
