HIBAPRESS – Chafiq Anouri
A recent Spanish report shed light on the signing by Morocco and the United States of America, last Thursday, of the new military roadmap, which will modernize the arsenal of the Royal Armed Forces and raise the country's strategic weight.
Washington and Rabat had signed the agreement aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries in the next decade, on April 16, in the context of strengthening the historical and strategic relations between the two countries, which date back to 1777, when Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States of America.
Modernizing the Military Arsenal
The report published by the newspaper "El Confidencial" revealed that the agreement aims to modernize the Royal Armed Forces, which are expected to obtain advanced technology that enhances their capabilities significantly, in addition to the deals for precision bombs and Apache helicopters currently being concluded.
Morocco's Joining the "NATO" Data Exchange System
The second axis of the agreement, the report explains, concerns strengthening interoperability between the Moroccan and American armies, which is demonstrated annually during the African Lion maneuvers, the largest military exercises on the continent. The next edition is expected to witness the participation of American technology companies to test new combat equipment in the field.
The same source pointed out that Morocco is expected to join the "Link-16" system, which is a tactical data exchange network used by "NATO" countries to coordinate military operations simultaneously and at the same time, between ground, air, and naval units.
Local Defense Industry and a Regional Center for the Training of African Armies
The third axis, according to the same report, is related to Morocco's efforts to develop a local defense industry, through manufacturing and assembling military equipment projects, and partnerships with international companies, including "Lockheed Martin", in addition to cooperation with other companies in the field of drones.
The Pentagon also announced, according to the same Spanish report, the establishment of a regional center in Morocco for the training of African armies in the use of drones, to start its activity in conjunction with the "African Lion" maneuvers.
The report indicated that this military development complements the increasing American diplomatic support for Morocco, especially since Washington's recognition in 2020 of the Kingdom's sovereignty over its entire territory, which was reinforced during the second term of Trump, especially with the push within the Security Council towards adopting the autonomy plan.
Morocco, "NATO", and the "Abraham" Accords
Although Morocco is sometimes described as a distinguished partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it is not a member of it, nor is its joining expected, according to what came in the Spanish report, but some analysts are calling for the establishment of a new defense alliance that includes the countries of the "Abraham Accords".
In this context, the same source highlights that US Senators Ted Budd and Joni Ernst presented a bill to enhance defense cooperation between these countries, in the context of confronting Iran, with a funding mechanism from the Pentagon.
Morocco and the United States
Analysts believe, according to "El Confidencial", that Morocco seeks through this rapprochement to consolidate its position as the most important ally of the United States in Africa, which enables it to expand its influence in the Sahel and Francophone Africa region, and also to strengthen its position in the face of Europe.
In this context, the Spanish report says that some researchers are raising ambitious scenarios, including the possibility of moving the American military base from Rota base to a Moroccan location, which was previously denied by General Michael Langley.
The Spanish report concluded that the bet of Moroccan diplomacy is no longer limited to winning Washington's support on the Sahara issue, but goes beyond it to a broader ambition represented in transforming into the first strategic partner of the United States in the African continent and into a rising geopolitical power on the international level.
