The Royal Armed Forces are hosting a new edition of the joint exercise “Jbel Sahara” near Marrakech, a symbol of the strength of the military partnership between Morocco and the United Kingdom.
The Ram-Ram training area, near Marrakech, has been hosting the new edition of the “Jbel Sahara” military exercise since the beginning of October, jointly organised by the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the British Army.
According to a statement from the FAR, this exercise illustrates the depth of military cooperation between the two countries and aims to strengthen operational capabilities, tactical coordination, and interoperability between the forces.
Moroccan military authorities stated that this exercise is part of a series of joint training exercises conducted with several of the kingdom’s strategic partners, including the United States and France.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to modernise and strengthen the Moroccan defense system, in a region marked by a resurgence of hybrid threats and cross-border challenges.
At the same time, the FAR conducted the “Chergui” exercise in the Errachidia region alongside the French army. This deployment involved the 5th French Combat Helicopter Regiment and a command module of the airmobile brigade. In a press release issued on October 3, the French
government emphasised that “the exercise highlights Franco-Moroccan military cooperation and the strength of the strategic partnership between the two countries.” These manoeures aim to hone tactical and technical skills and better respond to regional security challenges.
Last May, Morocco hosted “African Lion,” the largest joint military exercise in Africa, conducted under the leadership of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). This annual operation, in which contingents from several allied countries participate, strengthens interoperability, readiness, and joint coordination.
According to Eldride Browne, head of exercises for the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force in Africa, “Morocco’s unwavering support and multinational commitment contribute to the success of African Lion every year.”
According to the 2025 ranking by the specialist website Global Firepower, Morocco ranks 59th out of 145 countries evaluated. The SIPRI report published in April 2025 confirms this rise, noting that
the kingdom’s military spending reached $5.5 billion in 2024, representing 2.6 percent of its GDP.
MK/ak/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA