Morocco Reportedly Pursuing Submarine Acquisition, Portuguese Defense Minister Claims

Would the recent visit to Portugal by Abdellatif Loudyi, Minister Delegate in charge of National Defense Administration, confirm the suspicions of the acquisition of new military equipment by the Kingdom? If for the moment we are not there yet, would the words of the Portuguese Minister of Defense then betray his intentions? "Morocco is in the process of buying submarines," he said on Friday, July 12, as he received his Moroccan counterpart.

In its approach to the issue, Medias24 rather requires caution. The news site reports that during his stay in Lisbon, Abdellatif Loudyi notably visited the Lisbon naval base and its flagship, the Alfeite arsenal, the famous Portuguese military shipyard, which could also confirm the suspicions.

Moreover, the naval military cooperation between the two countries is excellent. Proof of this, notes the same source, Morocco has indeed strengthened its military navy, among other things, through equipment (FREMM frigate), infrastructure (Ksar Sghir naval base) and joint exercises with other countries, which makes the Kingdom "a pivot in the southwest of the Mediterranean and the northwest flank of Africa".

It is the newspaper Defesa that provides interesting details, citing João Gomes Cravinho. According to him, "there are obvious synergies for both parties", as Portugal and Morocco share a "very extensive maritime border" and "similar concerns regarding the Atlantic: in particular, on Europe-Africa relations, work on migration flows or the fight against terrorism," he notes. It is even whispered that Portugal will host Moroccan sailors on board its own submarines, during exercises.

These are all statements, not the least, that shed light on the barely veiled intentions of the Kingdom to strengthen its submarine capabilities. However, "there will be no purchase of submarines by Morocco before 2022," a military expert recently told Médias24.