Saudi Arabia and Morocco move to deepen military ties after king’s warning
Two days after King Mohammed VI said that an attack on Saudi Arabia would be tantamount to an attack on Morocco, Saudi Arabia’s defense minister called Abdellatif Loudiyi. The two officials want to strengthen military cooperation and regional coordination.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman spoke on Monday, September 28, with Abdellatif Loudiyi, minister delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration.
The two officials discussed ways to strengthen the “various areas” of defense cooperation between Morocco and Saudi Arabia, Saudi Gazette reports. They also reviewed their joint efforts to promote regional security and stability “in light of current developments.”
On Bladi.net : Mohammed VI: “Any aggression against Saudi Arabia is an aggression against Morocco”
The call comes two days after the Moroccan monarch sent messages to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following new Houthi attacks on Saudi territory.
“Any aggression against Saudi Arabia is an aggression against Morocco,” the king said. He also said that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the other countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council was inseparable from Morocco’s security.
The royal message, also published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), condemned attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure, as well as attempts targeting Mecca and Medina. Mohammed VI also held the Houthis’ supporters, financiers and arms suppliers responsible for the attacks.
A military agreement in place since 2015
Rabat and Riyadh already have a framework agreement on military and technical cooperation, signed in December 2015. It covers training, the defense industry, logistical support, the transfer of expertise, military medical services and exchanges of delegations. The cooperation was also the subject of a meeting between senior Moroccan and Saudi officers in Rabat.
A joint military committee is responsible for organizing these exchanges. At its second meeting, in 2019, it reviewed activities carried out by the two armed forces and prepared their joint program for the following year.
