Morocco quietly strengthens control of its arms, from Jordan to Estonia’s ports
In 2024, Morocco took part in two highly targeted European operations to strengthen arms control. In less than three months, its representatives traveled to Jordan and then Estonia to work on the risk of diversion, traceability, transit and cargo targeting.
The information appears in the 27th annual report of the European Union on arms export controls, adopted by the EU Council on 21 April 2026. The document details the actions carried out with several partner countries as part of the European arms export control program.
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The first step for Morocco was Aqaba, Jordan, from 27 to 29 August 2024. Representatives of the Moroccan “competent authorities” took part in a workshop focused in particular on the risk of arms diversion after their transfer.
They worked on verifying the end user and the actual use of the equipment, the role of customs in export controls, stock management, as well as the marking and traceability of weapons. A field visit was also organized at Aqaba airport.
From arms monitoring to cargo control
Less than three months later, the destination was Estonia. On 11 and 12 November, Morocco and Montenegro benefited from a specific study visit in Tallinn devoted to the transit and transshipment of weapons.
The objective was notably to study cooperation between licensing authorities and customs services. The delegation also visited the port of Muuga, where participants observed the procedures used to control goods transiting through Estonian territory.
The program focused in particular on risk assessment and cargo targeting, two tools enabling customs services to identify flows requiring enhanced controls.
These two trips thus covered two different stages in the movement of weapons: in Jordan, monitoring through to the end user and preventing diversion; in Estonia, controlling their passage across borders and through ports.
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The European report specifies neither the number of Moroccans sent nor the administrations to which they belonged. It therefore does not allow them to be presented as military personnel: Brussels refers only to representatives of the competent authorities.