US-Led African Lion Exercise to Include Algeria, Morocco in Unprecedented Joint Participation

African Lion will begin next April 14 in Tunisia and continue in Morocco, Ghana and Senegal from May. In total, 10,000 soldiers from more than 40 countries, including seven NATO allies, will participate in this military exercise. The peculiarity of the 2025 edition? Its size and strong participation. The forces involved will test advanced capabilities such as the HIMARS (HIRAIN) system, the new NGSW squad weapons, and the integration of cyber defense exercises. Humanitarian and medical aspects will also be present, in an overall effort of inclusive security.

This year, Algeria, considered to have the most powerful army in Africa in terms of size and equipment, will participate, for the first time, in African Lion, as an observer alongside other countries such as Morocco and Israel with which it does not have diplomatic relations. Algerian participation represents a symbolic turning point in its bilateral relations with the United States. It comes after the signing, in January 2025, of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defense between Algiers and Washington, focused on military dialogue, the fight against terrorism, naval cooperation and cybersecurity.