Modernisation of the Royal Armed Forces a priority for Morocco
The commemoration of the FAR's anniversary was a complete success. The ceremony, presided over by HM King Mohamed VI (Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces) was accompanied by military parades, worship and prayers, as well as decorations to illustrious military personnel and the holding of parades. The event was attended by the top brass of the government and the army itself. The event was attended by senior government and army officials, including Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Mohamed Dkhissi, director of the judicial police of the General Directorate of National Security, and other ministers of the head of state, according to a statement issued by the Supreme Command of the Royal Armed Forces.
The North African nation's growth over the last decade, especially in recent years, is reaching heights that are surpassing Rabat's expectations. The boost given to the economy, the automobile sector, the agricultural sector and, above all, the use and development of renewable energies, are part of the objectives that Rabat hopes to achieve by 2030. However, if there is one asset that stands out in the country, it is the development and cooperation agreements with the United States in military matters.
In recent years, the FAR has established the development and modernisation of its technology as its roadmap. More than increasing its military capacity, the Moroccan army has managed to bring its defensive and offensive systems to the forefront of technology. Crucial to this has been the Kingdom's good relations with military powers such as the United States, China and Israel, which have supported Morocco's national interest by providing the most modern systems at their disposal.
Morocco also obtained a licence in 2022 to have the first military drone factory in Africa on national soil, which will also be used as a repair workshop for aircraft such as Apache helicopters and F-16s.
King Mohamed VI addressed the FAR in his speech by referring that "the geostrategic transformations taking place in the international arena require, in addition to constant vigilance and continuous adaptation, a rational approach, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to strengthen the defence, operational and logistical capabilities of the armed forces".
"In addition to the scientific research and development initiatives launched in collaboration with Moroccan universities and institutions to participate in the process of industrial development of the country, we have issued our high orders to establish the Royal Centre for Defence Studies and Research of the Royal College of High Military Studies, to whom we have entrusted the task of contributing to the consolidation of a culture of strategic approach to face the problems and challenges of. governmental and military," he added.
The Directorate General of National Security has also made significant progress in the modernisation of security services and structures, as well as in the mechanisms adopted to establish good governance in the management of the human and economic resources of the Police. National Security was established on 16 May 1956 and has since earned the respect and admiration of international security partners. It has also won the hearts of all Moroccans.
The National Security Institution has proven to be efficient and effective during this period of time in addressing major security challenges, maintaining peace and ensuring the safety of citizens and their belongings. The Trust Index Report published by the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis revealed that the police enjoys the highest level of trust, with a trust rate of 92%, in light of the enormous sacrifices that the services of the General Directorate of National Security have been making in the service of the homeland and the citizen.
Expert in military and security affairs, Cherkaoui Roudani told Al-Arab that the Kingdom is obliged to secure its field of geosecurity by enhancing defence protection through the development of joint industrial programmes, especially with arms suppliers who are obliged to transfer their technologies to Morocco, as well as to sell equipment, as the country has signed numerous agreements in the field of military industries, allowing it to buy patents for defensive weapons from industrial complexes in Europe, Russia, China and India in addition to buying weapons.
Debating the draft defence budget for 2023 in the House of Representatives last November, the government's deputy minister in charge of National Defence, Abdellatif Loudi, revealed that Morocco has a programme aimed at first gradually establishing a military industry, starting with maintenance projects and the production of live ammunition, and then moving on to a military industry represented by the manufacture of drones. By appointing Lieutenant General Mohamed Briz as inspector general to succeed General Belkheir Farouk, King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as supreme commander and chief of the general staff of the Royal Armed Forces, made a change in the command of the army.