Joint miitary collaboration between Morocco and the Unted States is adapting to the new realities of fighting terrorism and other transnational crimes, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth said.
“African Lion,” the largest multinational joint military exercise on the African continent, the shared commitment of the United States and Morocco to regional security and stability, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth declared.
“Today, African Lion is in its 22nd edition. I would like to extend special thanks to our host, the Kingdom of Morocco, for its exceptional and enduring commitment to this exercise,” he said via videoconference at a ceremony held Thursday at the headquarters of the Southern Zone Command in Agadir, in honor of the countries participating in the 22nd edition.
According to Hegseth, African Lion helps improve interoperability and strengthen the capacity of participating forces to address security challenges together, while contributing to the elimination of terrorist sanctuaries.
The U.S. official stressed that threats are evolving rapidly and that partner forces must constantly innovate to maintain the operational edge.
“African Lion is far more than a training exercise: it is a platform for innovation that allows us to collectively explore new solutions and technologies that enhance our operational effectiveness on the battlefield,” he added.
He noted that the 2026 edition reflects this drive for innovation, integrating artificial intelligence, robotics and next-generation digital technologies into multi-domain, real-world scenarios.
“The message of African Lion 2026 is clear to those who seek to destabilize this continent: our shared determination is unshakeable, our capabilities continue to grow, and we are ready to defend our common interests,” he stressed.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, reaffirmed Morocco’s determination to build on the achievements of this exercise in order to make it a permanent framework for strengthening operational readiness, military partnership and multinational cooperation.
He underscored that the exercise contributes to developing a spirit of coordination in the face of current and future security challenges across the African, Mediterranean and Atlantic spaces.
The general also recalled that 2027 will mark the 250th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and the United States, lending particular symbolic significance to the next edition of the exercise.
General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), described African Lion as Africa’s preeminent joint, multi-domain and multinational exercise. He affirmed that it sends a clear message: the shared commitment to a safe and prosperous Africa is “a unified force ready to act.”
Officially launched on April 27 in Agadir, African Lion 2026 is running through May 8 across several sites, including Benguérir, Agadir, Tan-Tan, Taroudant, Dakhla and Tifnit.
Jointly organised by Morocco and the United States, the exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, crisis management and security cooperation in a regional context marked by multiple strategic challenges.
Held annually in Morocco for over twenty years, African Lion brings together multiple foreign contingents for land, air and naval exercises.
AK/te/lb/as/APA