Morocco and France revive military cooperation
The rapprochement between Morocco and France, since Paris' recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara desert, has extended into the military sphere. After ordering the introduction of this territory in French school textbook maps, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Mohammed VI's reign, relations between the two sides have improved significantly.
Morocco is an increasingly clear and forceful ally of the EU, and France is seeking to conclude a number of important military agreements with Rabat in an effort to revive opportunities for military cooperation.
Beyond the contracts signed in 2020 for the shipment of 36 Sherpa military vehicles to Paris, French press sources claim that Airbus has made an offer for 12 Caracal H225 helicopters, the heavy multi-mission military aircraft.
The Caracal H225 helicopters have years of combat experience and have participated in dozens of missions around the world. These military vehicles are distinguished by their ability to perform combat transport, medical evacuation and combat search and rescue missions. The information clarifies that the contract is expected to be signed before the end of the year by French President Emmanuel Macron.
The resumption of relations stems from an earlier report by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, which stated that Morocco was the third largest importer of military equipment from Paris in 2020, accounting for half of French arms sales to Africa. While relations at the time were not as healthy as they are today, Morocco and France are aware of the power of being military partners.
In addition to the Caracal H225, the two executives are negotiating the purchase and sale of Rafale fighters, Scorpene submarines, the French army's best submarines, and the new Barracuda submarines, which are expected to be available in 2026. Morocco is also expected to receive 30 Mirage 9-2000 fighter jets from 2027, according to El Español's detailed report.
Booming arms industry
Morocco is investing more than ever in the arms industry. But it is not only the Moroccan kingdom that has increased its military spending. Last year, NATO's 31 members spent 1.34 trillion dollars, accounting for 55% of global military spending.
The United States, which continues to lead the ranking, increased its budget by 2.3 per cent and will reach $916 billion by 2023, 68 per cent of the world's total. Overall global growth will be 6.8% in terms of real spending in 2022, reaching 2.44 trillion dollars, the largest annual increase since 2009.
Thus, last June, the Council of Ministers chaired by King Mohammed VI of Morocco approved four decrees related to the military, the most important of which was a draft decree calling for the establishment of two industrial acceleration zones to create industrial parks that include industries related to the development of defence and security equipment, weapons systems and ammunition to reduce dependence on foreign arms purchases.
For some time now, military cooperation between Morocco and France has declined as Rabat began its plan to diversify its sources of arms, becoming increasingly dependent on the United States.
While imports from Washington peaked at 70%, imports from France accounted for 14%. A recent report in the French newspaper La Tribune shows that the French navy is competing for submarine contracts in 13 countries, including Morocco.
What do the new agreements between France and Morocco mean?
Experts are clear: Morocco's rise globally, especially among NATO and EU countries, and as the best and most reliable partner between the Global South and the West are compelling enough reasons for deals between France and Morocco, Africa's gateway to Europe, to flourish.
This is detailed by Hicham Moataded, a strategic affairs researcher, who believes that ‘the potential agreements reflect the importance of defence cooperation between Rabat and Paris following the recent rapprochement and the end of the political conflict between the two countries after Paris recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara region’, noting that ‘the French Republic is seeking to develop its position in arms sales to Morocco, like many arms producers and exporters, in the framework of the North African country's opening up to new partners in the framework of bilateral agreements and partnerships’.
Similarly, strategic and security research expert Mohamed Al-Tayyar believes that ‘military cooperation between the two countries is undergoing exceptional development thanks to France's stance of support for Morocco's Sahara desert and the momentum that the Alawite kingdom is experiencing at all levels, including in the field of military industrialisation, where it already had an important position to occupy, meaning a further incentive for French companies to develop relations between the two countries and sign military agreements’.
With France officially joining the list of over 100 countries that support Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara desert, along with the US and Spain, military and security relations between the two countries are expected to grow significantly in the coming years and political rapprochement could lead to a rebalancing.