The U.S.-Morocco military alliance, which dates back to the 1950s and has been bolstered by billions of dollars in
defense sales, is Washington’s longest-standing partnership in Africa.
Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and commander of the southern zone, met Tuesday with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, in a critical telephone discussion, following a request from the U.S. military leadership.
During their exchange, the two military leaders stressed that the African Lion exercise, conducted in Morocco since 2004, represents “the best illustration of the strength and depth of the Moroccan-American strategic partnership,” according to a statement from the FAR General Staff.
“Yesterday, I discussed with the inspector general of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces security issues in the Sahel and the Maghreb,” General Brown announced on X after the call.
“Morocco is one of our oldest allies; we will continue to support each other in the face of evolving security challenges,” he added.
The conversation focused on issues of mutual interest, including regional security and methods for joining forces to address current regional challenges and threats.
This high-level military dialogue is part of a broad-based bilateral defense cooperation. Morocco, designated a major non-NATO ally in 2004, is the largest African buyer of U.S. military equipment, with active government-to-government sales reaching $8.545 billion under the Foreign Military Sales system.
The defense partnership has been strengthened through various channels, including Morocco’s receipt of $478 million in equipment through the Department of Defense’s Excess Defense Articles program since 2013.
The United States has also provided Morocco with $135 million in foreign military financing since 2012 and $32 million for international military education and training since 2006.
This relationship extends to counterterrorism efforts, with Morocco joining the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in 2014, becoming the first Maghreb country to do so. The North African country currently co-chairs the Coalition’s Africa Think Tank and has participated in the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership since 2005.
The African Lion exercise, mentioned by the two officers during their call, has become Africa’s largest joint military exercise under U.S. Africa Command since 2008, attracting the participation of more than twenty countries and NATO forces each year.
These partnerships are expected to further strengthen during President Trump’s second stint in the White House.
MK/ac/fss/as/APA