Morocco Ranks Third in French Arms Purchases as Global Sales Decline

Morocco is one of the countries that has purchased the most French weapons in 2020. According to the annual report of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, the kingdom ordered French weapons for an amount of 425.9 million euros. The country ranks behind Saudi Arabia (703.9 million euros) and the United States (433.6 million euros).

"In 2020, the amount of orders received amounted to 4.9 billion euros," compared to 8.3 billion euros a year earlier, a decrease of nearly 41%, indicates this report. This decline is explained by the impact of the global health crisis on the sector and the absence of the conclusion of major emblematic contracts, reports AFP which has a copy of the report.

"This result, down compared to previous years, is partly explained by the constraints related to the global health crisis which have postponed to 2021 several arms prospects, due to the suspension of commercial discussions and the associated investment decisions," as well as by "the absence of large contracts exceeding 500 million euros for the year 2020," notes the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.