US, Morocco Sign New Defense Cooperation Roadmap

Rabat – The US and Morocco have signed a new defense cooperation roadmap, shaping the two countries’ partnership in one of the key sectors.

Secretary of War Elbridge Colby expressed satisfaction with the signing of the new roadmap, stating that the partnership builds on 250 years of bilateral ties between the two countries.

Recalling Morocco was the first nation to recognize the US independence, Colby said on X today that he was pleased to meet and sign the new partnership alongside Morocco’s Minister Delegate for Defense Abdellatif Loudiyi and Mohammed Berrid, the Inspector General of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in the Pentagon.

“This Roadmap will guide our historic defense relationship for the next decade,” he wrote.

Morocco is a major non-NATO ally, with the US frequently describing security cooperation with Rabat as strategic and strong.

The visit is part of a high-level delegation on a working trip for the 14th meeting of the Moroccan-American Defense Consultative Committee.

Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, also received the Moroccan delegation, which included Morocco’s ambassador to Washington, Youssef Amrani, and US ambassador to Rabat Duke Buchan III.

The meeting focused on strengthening and elevating bilateral ties between the two countries in the field of defense.

Both countries expressed strong satisfaction with exemplary relations and the long-standing alliance between Rabat and Washington.

Morocco’s delegation also commended the US position supporting Morocco’s full sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.

While no further information was provided on the US-Morocco new defense roadmap, the two governments have been strengthening cooperation in the field, among other security areas, at all levels.

The US and Morocco exchange expertise and conduct joint military exercises, including the largest annual military drill in Africa, African Lion.

The military drills seek to improve interoperability and strengthen counterterrorism to promote regional stability.

The partnership also encompasses defense cooperation, which includes arms sales and intelligence sharing.

The previous edition of African Lion or AL25 was the largest US-led military exercise on the continent, involving over 10,000 troops from over 50 countries, including seven NATO allies.

Preparations are also ongoing for the upcoming African Lion.

This week, the US Air Forces in Europe- Air Forces Africa announced that it teamed up with US Marine Forces Africa and Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) to carry out their first-ever test of secure encrypted communications.

The test is the first tactical datalinks the US conducts with an African partner.

The US Air Forces in Europe- Air Forces Africa said the demonstration took place on February 3 as part of the preparatory campaign for the upcoming African Lion 2026.

The signing of the roadmap also came after the US and Morocco formalized their partnership by signing a 10-year military cooperation agreement in 2020.

The goal of the agreement is to address regional security challenges and bolster Morocco’s defense industry. 

Morocco is also among the largest importers of arms in Africa, and the US is the largest supplier to the North African country.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) in March said Morocco increased its arms imports by 12% between the 2016-2020 and 2021-2025 periods. It ranked 28th globally with a 1% share of total global arms imports.

The US supplied 60% of Morocco’s arms imports during 2021-2025.

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