Spain Exports $14.8 Million in Defense Equipment to Morocco in 2020, Report Shows

According to the 2020 report on exports of defense and dual-use equipment, transmitted to Congress by the Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, Spain sold arms to Morocco for around 80 million euros between 2016 and 2019 and for 12.5 million in 2020, reports Europa Press. According to the document, the Moroccan armed forces received last year mortar grenades, mortar spare parts, explosives, detonators, slow fuses, engines for armored vehicles, spare parts for Spanish-made transport aircraft, etc.

To read: Morocco Slashes Arms Imports by 60% as Middle East Military Spending Surges

In total, arms exports amounted to 3.62 billion euros in 2020, 10.4% less than in 2019, the report specifies, indicating that 77.3% of exports are destined for NATO and European Union countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, which are the largest buyers of Spanish arms. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Iraq and Israel also acquired various defense materials from Spain in 2020 for 48.3 million euros, 27.7 million euros, 11.9 million, 874,050 euros and 477,288 euros respectively, notes the report.

However, two exports to Myanmar in Burma, worth 22 million euros, were refused, the report points out. They concerned the acquisition of a platform control system, a closed-circuit television and an anti-missile system for a frigate intended for the Navy.