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US Navy Base in Morocco Sparks Tension with Algeria
Thursday 9 July 2020, by
The announced presence of a US Navy base in northern Morocco is not to the liking of Algeria, which sees it as a way to weaken its navy.
While the military agreement between the United States and Spain on the occupation of the naval base of Rota near Cadiz is due to expire in May 2021, Morocco has offered to host these American ships at the Ksar Sghir base in the Strait of Gibraltar, north of the kingdom, reported El Espanol. It is not excluded that the kingdom also offers its site of Agadir to its American partners.
The presence of elements of the US 6th Fleet in Moroccan waters could put the Algerian navy in difficulty, says Maghreb Intelligence. Hence the annoyance of the ANP general staff. This navy will no longer have the same room for maneuver as in the past. The activities of Algerian submarines would be limited or reduced. More activities on the Moroccan coast.
The US Navy’s 6th Fleet consists of about 40 ships, nearly 180 aircraft and 21,000 soldiers.