Israeli Arms Exports Hit Record $12.5 Billion, Morocco Among Top Buyers

According to figures published on Wednesday by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, annual Israeli arms sales have reached "a new record in 2022, for the second consecutive year, with exports doubling compared to about a decade ago. Total defense exports amounted to $12.5 billion in 2022 compared to $11.4 billion in 2021, and are therefore up year-on-year," the Defense International Cooperation Directorate of the Ministry of Defense said, noting that drones and unmanned aircraft account for "the largest share of exports at 25%, up from 9% in 2021. They are followed by missiles, guided projectiles and air defense systems (19%).

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, which have renewed ties with Israel, are among the major importers. Their purchases account for 24% of total Israeli arms sales in 2022, an increase of 7% compared to 2021, reports the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, stating that Israeli arms sales to Africa and Latin America did not exceed 3% for each of these regions. As for North America, it acquired 11% of the total Israeli arms sales.

Since the normalization in 2020 of relations between Morocco and Israel under the aegis of the United States, the two countries are working to strengthen their military cooperation. In January, the first meeting of the Moroccan-Israeli defense cooperation monitoring committee was held at the officers’ circle and mess, during which the two parties discussed the prospects. Together, they reviewed the various areas of bilateral military cooperation, including logistics, training, exercises, as well as the acquisition and modernization of equipment.