Morocco Military Spending Outpaces Spain’s Defense Effort

The budgetary balance of power remains largely favorable to Spain. In absolute terms, Madrid spends approximately six times more than Rabat on defense. But the comparison changes when looking at the share of national wealth devoted to the military.

On Bladi.net : Morocco’s Military Surge: Billions Poured into Defense Amid Regional Tensions

According to figures cited by La Razón, Spain allocated 2.1% of its GDP to defense in 2025, while Morocco stands at around 3.5%. Morocco’s planned budget for 2026 would even place defense spending at nearly 4% of GDP.

The gap is all the more striking given that Spain’s economy is much larger. In 2025, Spanish military spending reached $40.2 billion, compared to $6.3 billion for Morocco. But Rabat devotes a larger share of its resources to its military, with steady year-on-year growth.

Morocco advances without hiccups

Spain sharply increased its spending in 2025, with a 50% jump in one year. But this increase occurred in a fragile political context, with state budgets extended since 2023 and a defense plan adopted by the government without a Congressional vote.

Morocco, meanwhile, advances more gradually. Its 2026 budget law provides 73 billion dirhams for the National Defense Administration, approximately €6.9 billion. Of this envelope, 17.7 billion dirhams are reserved for investment and development of a national military industry.

Morocco concentrates its purchases on equipment directly useful in its regional environment: Apache AH-64E helicopters, new F-16 Block 72s, modernization of existing aircraft, AMRAAM missiles, and Turkish Bayraktar drones.

Madrid maintains clear overall superiority, particularly in the navy, military industry, aeronautics, command, and NATO integration. But Morocco relies on more targeted equipment, more rapidly deployable and sometimes less costly, such as drones and remotely operated munitions.

On Bladi.net : Morocco strengthens its military spending

The comparison has its limits, however. Morocco’s effort responds primarily to rivalry with Algeria, which remains the main driver of military buildup in the Maghreb. But viewed from Spain, Morocco’s consistency in defense matters is now taken seriously.