Morocco has decided to equip its Auxiliary Forces (FA) with new equipment in total secrecy. This is to strengthen these security apparatuses for future missions, particularly in the Sahara where hostilities have resumed with a vengeance since last November.
Russia, a traditional ally of Algeria, is preparing to install a naval base in Oran, not far from the border with Morocco. This would allow the neighbor to the east to put pressure on Morocco or to have a protector.
Military maneuvers will take place in the Moroccan Sahara as part of the African Lion 21 exercises scheduled for next June. A first.
U.S. President Joe Biden intends to maintain his predecessor’s policy on exports of armed drones to more foreign countries, confirming the sale of four drones to Morocco . The kingdom had negotiated this acquisition as part of the normalization of its relations with Israel.
For a few years now, Morocco has been investing in the modernization and strengthening of its army. With the support of the United States, its privileged partner and main supplier of military equipment, the kingdom has acquired several models of the latest generation Abrams tanks.
Morocco and Israel have maintained close relations for many years, and this in almost all areas. On the security level, cooperation between the two countries is most often secret, through the exchange of intelligence information and a fairly sophisticated arms trade.
Between 2016 and 2020, Morocco reduced its arms imports by 60% compared to the 2011-2015 period. This is what the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicates, which published on Monday the new data on international arms transfers.
The health crisis has not prevented Morocco from continuing its policy of strengthening its military equipment. According to the website Défense, the kingdom signed new contracts in 2020 for the acquisition of a significant amount of materials and equipment for the benefit of the Royal Armed Forces.
Morocco could turn to the French Naval Group for the acquisition of a submarine, the only missing equipment in the arsenal of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR). A few months ago, information had indicated a Moroccan preference for a Russian Amur-class submarine.
As part of the "African Lion 2021" military exercise, scheduled to take place from June 7 to 18 in Morocco, specifically in the southern provinces, more than 5,000 troops from Morocco, the United States, Tunisia and Senegal are actively preparing. According to the FAR review, "US Army and Royal Armed Forces planners will hold meetings and field visits for two weeks."
Morocco and Algeria have embarked on an arms race following the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara. This is at least what the magazine The Africa Report reveals.
Morocco and the United States have been participating since the beginning of this week in the lightning handshake, a bilateral maritime exercise. This maneuver, which is taking place between the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE CSG) carrier strike group, the Royal Moroccan Navy and the Royal Air Force (RAF), aims to celebrate the bicentennial of a lasting partnership with the kingdom, according to a statement from the US embassy in Morocco .