US Expands Military Ties with Morocco, Waives Defense Fund Restrictions

"The Secretary of Defense has just signed a waiver that allows the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to continue its cooperation and training with Morocco. [...] Our military partnership with Morocco is strong, and we are confident that this unwavering partnership will continue to thrive in the years to come," Bardha Azari, AFRICOM spokesperson, told Middle East Eye. This removes an obstacle to military cooperation between the two countries.

Last year, the US Congress had adopted an amendment to restrict the financial support granted to Morocco in the context of multilateral military exercises. According to this amendment, the release of the funds was now conditional on Rabat’s commitment to finding an acceptable political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy and Republican Senator Jim Inhofe were behind this amendment. An initiative motivated by their opposition to the US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, formalized by former US President Donald Trump in exchange for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the kingdom and Israel.

Despite the headwinds, military cooperation is moving forward. Currently visiting Morocco, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has also highlighted Washington’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Moroccan Sahara and praised Rabat’s role in the region in terms of security cooperation.