Washington seeks close military cooperation with Rabat
Morocco and the United States are stepping up efforts to strengthen military cooperation in the face of a multitude of regional and international challenges, including Russia’s growing influence in the Sahel and Sahara region and the growing threat of terrorist groups in western Africa.
Rabat has become the cornerstone of every move by the West, especially Washington, to meet many challenges, especially with regard to the influence of both Beijing and Moscow. Meanwhile, the Moroccan authorities are seeking to modernize their military capabilities in cooperation with countries like the United States, in the midst of tension with its eastern neighbor, Algeria.
Minister Delegate for the National Defense Administration in Morocco, Abdellatif Loudiyi, discussed, Sunday with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, praising the close partnership with Morocco.
This came during a meeting between Loudiyi and Milley in Rabat, where the last visit will be led by a U.S. military delegation, of unspecified duration, according to a statement by the General Command of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR).
The visit of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Morocco is the first of its kind to an African country, which reveals the importance that Rabat has assumed in American policies.
During the meeting, the two sides “expressed satisfaction with the outstanding level of the long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation, which were reinforced by a strategic military partnership organized by an important legal arsenal, including, in particular, the Roadmap for Defense Cooperation 2020-2030, signed in October 2020, ” the statement said.
They also “highlighted the importance of the annual joint exercise (African Lion), which represents a key lever for the success of the joint operation of the armed forces,” the same source added.
On October 2, 2020, Washington and Rabat signed a 10-year military cooperation agreement, on the sidelines of an official visit to Morocco by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
The two officials reiterated their willingness to further strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership between the two armed forces.
The “African Lion” is a military exercise organized annually by the Moroccan and American armies in the Kingdom with the participation of armies of several countries, and is considered the largest in Africa.
According to the Moroccan website Hespress, Milli said that Morocco is “a great partner and ally of the United States” and is a very stable country in a continent and a region in need of stability.
“We see Morocco as a major partner and ally not only in the region but across the African continent, ” he added.
He stressed that the Kingdom was the first country to recognize its independence, pointing to the strength of the relations between the two countries for more than two centuries and expressing Washington’s desire to deepen and expand them.
Morocco is a strong ally, not only of the United States, but also of European countries, where the West relies heavily on Rabat to maintain stability on the continent. Meanwhile, Moroccan diplomacy has succeeded in using this advantage to serve Moroccan interests, especially with regard to the recognition of its sovereignty over the Sahara region.
Observers say Morocco’s diplomatic success in recognizing the autonomy plan is not out of void, but because of Rabat’s ability to convince the West it cannot maintain its interests without improving ties with Moroccan authorities.
