Morocco’s Defense Spending Surges as US Arms Sales Double to $8.5 Billion

"U.S. military sales to Morocco more than doubled in 2020, from $4.01 billion (36 billion MAD) to its current completed sales value of $8.5 billion (76 billion MAD)," says the U.S. International Trade Administration, a federal agency under the Department of Commerce, noting that Morocco’s defense budget increased by 4% for the purchase of defense equipment in 2021. Over the years, Morocco has become the largest buyer of U.S. defense systems in Africa.

The agency reveals that the kingdom has allocated a budget of $20 billion for its strategic goals of modernizing and making its army interoperable with the United States and NATO, by modernizing its army’s equipment, particularly its air force and navy. The FAR has also ordered two FREMM frigates from the Italian group Fincantieri for the Royal Navy. Morocco also intends to invest in a high-end coastal surveillance system, as securing the coasts has become a key priority.

"Morocco aims to have a fully independent army, air force and navy," added the U.S. Agency for International Trade, stating that Morocco’s 2030 modernization plan focuses on the establishment of a local defense industry. Already, a legal framework has been developed to support the emergence of a defense industrial sector in Morocco, as well as the implementation of an overall incentive framework in terms of training, financial support and access to land.