US to Establish Military-Industrial Base in Morocco, Countering Russian Influence in Africa

The United States wants to strengthen its influence in Africa in the face of the growing power of Russia. Moscow "not only firmly supports the Algerian military regime militarily and politically, but is also discussing the establishment of a large logistics base that would give it an important outlet to the countries south of the Sahara desert," indicates a report transmitted by William Burns, director of the CIA, to the American president. A strategy perceived as a threat to the "interests of Washington and its allies" in the region.

After receiving this report, Joe Biden tasked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with preparing an emergency plan to establish an American military-industrial base in Morocco, reports the New York Daily News. A draft plan was thus presented to the US president during a high-level meeting in late December. He asked the minister "to encourage the Pentagon to facilitate the logistical and legal aspects of investments by the American defense industry in Morocco." Rabat is a "major non-NATO ally" in the fight against terrorism.