Morocco and Spain deepen cooperation through cultural and naval initiatives

Friday 21 November 2025 - 14:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco and Spain deepen cooperation through cultural and naval initiatives

Morocco received a Spanish military delegation for a four day visit aimed at strengthening cultural and defense cooperation. The visit brought together senior representatives from both countries who oversee military heritage and maritime security. The audience includes policy analysts, defense observers, and readers following North African and Mediterranean strategic affairs.

Officials opened the program with a session at the Directorate of Military History. The briefing outlined the directorate’s work to safeguard Morocco’s national historical memory and to expand documentation of military heritage. Talks highlighted potential areas of joint work, including the planned Sala de Banderas project.

Major General Marcos Llago Navarro, head of Spain’s Institute of Military History and Culture, led the delegation. The group visited key heritage sites in Fez and Tangier. The itinerary included the Arms Museum housed in the northern and southern towers of Fez, the historic fortifications of Tangier, and the Dar al Baroud and Ibn Battouta museums. These visits offered an overview of Morocco’s preservation efforts and its approach to presenting military history to the public.

The visit reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to protect military heritage and to support projects that reflect long standing cultural links across the western Mediterranean.

Naval cooperation continued earlier in the week with joint exercises between the Royal Moroccan Navy and the Spanish Navy in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. The training formed part of NATO’s SeaGuardian operation. Reports from EuropaSur indicated that the drills focused on improving maritime security and building response capacity against regional threats including terrorism.

The Moroccan frigate Tariq Ibn Ziyad and the Spanish frigate Reina Sofia conducted tactical maneuvers and simultaneous inspection exercises. These activities strengthened coordination and increased readiness in shared maritime zones that remain vital to both countries.