US increases its commitment to the Moroccan Sahara
Morocco has found in the United States one of its staunchest allies. Its position recognising the Sahara as Moroccan was a decisive change and encouraged other important countries, such as Germany, Spain and Israel, to follow in its footsteps. Now Washington wants to double down and go beyond diplomacy to defend Moroccan interests.
- Lockhed Martin announces a new agreement with Morocco
- An agreement to further strengthen the Washington-Rabat axis
- A key moment to increase military cooperation
Lockhed Martin announces a new agreement with Morocco
On 29 March, the US Department of Defence announced a new agreement reached by the arms company Lockhed Martin to support the sustainability of Morocco's F-16 fighters. Thanks to this, the American company will provide "technical, support, sustainment and configuration management, aircraft system safety assurance programme support and support for mission readiness, sustainability, reliability and maintainability of the F-16 weapon system" until at least the end of February next year.
This step follows the line of strategic cooperation established between the two states, which opened one of its most important chapters with the memorandum of understanding signed in October 2020, and set the tone for the next ten years. A roadmap was established that aims to consolidate bilateral relations in the field of defence, in addition to promoting several joint projects.
One of these is the sale of military weapons, specifically 200 portable launchers and 612 Javelin FGM-148F anti-tank missiles, for a joint price of up to 260 million dollars. The operation, which represents a qualitative leap for the Moroccan forces, was announced by the Defence and Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Although the operation still requires final approval, all indications are that there will be no problems in materialising an agreement that is well underway.
An agreement to further strengthen the Washington-Rabat axis
The statement published by the Department of Defence assures that the US Congress has already been informed of the agreement. Washington is confident that the sale will support US foreign policy and national security while helping to improve the security of a key non-NATO ally.
In fact, the department says the deal will help Morocco improve its defence capabilities. The White House wants to contribute to the protection of Morocco's territorial integrity, which of course includes the Sahara. The timing is an opportunity to bring the two countries' positions on this issue even closer together at a time when Rabat is hoping that France will join the list of countries that recognise Morocco's recognition of the Sahara.
A key moment to increase military cooperation
It is no longer just a diplomatic turning point, but the instability and tension in the region means that Morocco cannot neglect security. The threat from the Polisario Front and its Algerian ally are not the only ones, as there are reports of a possible incursion of Iranian origin, at least in a test phase.
But far from giving up in the face of threats, Morocco intends to consolidate its position as a regional leader. To this end, it also wants to continue to be one of the United States' strong partners and to participate, as it has done so far, in more than a hundred joint military exercises and events per year. Above all, Morocco is the country on the African continent that cooperates most closely with the Americans in this regard. The idea is to increase this fruitful partnership and not let regional instability cloud a leadership that will again be strengthened by the US-Moroccan affinity.