Morocco and Turkey expand their collaboration in the military industry
Morocco will expand its military borders after signing a series of cooperation agreements with Turkey that will favour the manufacture of all types of weapons and electronic systems in the national territory.
To this end, a Turkish delegation from ASELSAN met with Morocco's National Defence leaders to explore possible military cooperation. The visit, organised by the Turkish ambassador in Rabat, Mustafa Ilker Kiliç, could involve secret operations between the two nations.
Security will be an area in which Rabat and Ankara will be able to share experiences and resources that will help to establish lasting strategic relations that will benefit the stability of both countries and strengthen their common interests.
Turkey-Morocco relations
The partnership with ASELSAN, Turkey's leading security company, marks a promising start for the joint development of projects, including the creation of large specialised research centres.
The Alaouite Kingdom is one of the most prominent clients of the Turkish military industry. Since the first agreements were signed with the Baykar company in 2021, through the Ministry of Defence, Morocco has imported a series of Baytaktar TB2 drones worth 715 million dirhams; and has invested more than 510 million in the purchase of Coral electronic defence systems.
In addition, last year Morocco also submitted a request to purchase 200 Cobra 2 armoured vehicles worth 1.4 billion dirhams; and, looking to the future, the Moroccan Army plans to acquire the Akinci model, a high-altitude unmanned aircraft also produced by Baykar.
As an additional detail, Rabat established a new command post in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, as well as one in the Indian city of New Delhi, whose mission is to strengthen relations in the military sphere and serve as a headquarters to monitor possible military exercises.
Defence budget
The total amount of money that countries allocate to Defence is increasing. With an increase of more than 85 billion dirhams since 2020, Morocco, according to the 2025 finance law, will have the largest Defence budget in its history, with more than 133 billion.
In accordance with the new law, Morocco will increase and allocate all kinds of material to the Royal Armed Forces, as well as providing them with everything necessary to repair equipment and manufacture some of it.
This new increase in the country's defensive capabilities forms part of the strategy of opening up new and better military partnerships. The greater the investment, the greater the capacity for arms purchases and development. Amongst Rabat's objectives is that of obtaining the most efficient weapons and sufficient capacity to be able to develop and export them in the future.
Morocco's military position
The agreements with Turkey represent a qualitative leap for the Moroccan defence industry. With the full confidence of the United States and with dozens of contracts with Israel and Turkey, Morocco has achieved a privileged position.
Its geographical location and its international relations have been the key to the Alaouite nation becoming one of the main clients that any military power is willing to negotiate with.
Morocco's latest investments in the field of security and defence, whether through the creation of arms development centres, direct purchases of military equipment or the signing of agreements with the world's most important entities in the sector, have positioned the North African country as a candidate to become one of the main military powers in a few years' time.
Furthermore, since the arrival of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the Morocco brand will carry increasing weight due to its importance for North America and the good work it does in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region.
