Morocco Denies Reports of Tank Deliveries to Ukraine Amid Conflict

"Some media outlets have published information that has been reported carelessly by some Moroccan websites, dubiously involving Morocco’s name in the Russia-Ukraine conflict," writes the Far-Maroc Forum on its Facebook page. It provides clarifications, ’which have no official character whatsoever’. The article was illustrated by photos of An124 and Il76 transport aircraft that made rotations to eastern Moroccan airfields. These planes belonged to the United Arab Emirates and were transporting equipment to prepare the stays of personalities from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain in the Bouarfa region, the FFM said.

The information that Morocco has sent T72 tanks to be renovated in the Czech Republic is also false. The renovation is taking place in Morocco with the support of a Czech company. The FFM also states that the figure of 40 operational Moroccan T72 tanks, mentioned by some media, is erroneous.

"Morocco, as part of its effort to develop the armored corps, has acquired old T72 tanks from the Czech Republic. The agreement provided that the Excalibur company would oversee their renovation to the T72M version, before transferring them to Morocco. Morocco obtained a few dozen of these tanks between 2021 and 2022 (the 2021 UN report on arms trade mentions 14 tanks)," explains the FAR Maroc forum.

And to add: "And due to the strong pressure exerted on the company to deliver tanks to Ukraine, it was decided, after consultation with Morocco, that the technology be transferred to the kingdom to renovate the Moroccan tanks, whether for the T72B tank fleet or the recent tanks acquired from the former Czech stock, provided that other weapons manufactured by the company be delivered in compensation for the delay."