Morocco and US congressional delegation discuss expanding strategic defence cooperation

Thursday 24 September 2026 - 16:12

By: Azzat Manal

Morocco and US congressional delegation discuss expanding strategic defence cooperation

Morocco and the United States are seeking to further strengthen their long-standing defence partnership, with talks in Rabat focusing on military cooperation, joint exercises and emerging areas such as defence industry, cybersecurity and space.

Abdellatif Loudyi, Morocco’s minister delegate to the head of government in charge of the National Defence Administration, received a US congressional delegation in Rabat on Thursday, headed by Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, during a working visit to Morocco.

The meeting highlighted the established nature of Moroccan-US relations and the development of bilateral military cooperation. Both sides expressed their intention to maintain and expand a partnership based on mutual interests, according to Morocco’s National Defence Administration.

Defence cooperation between the two countries includes institutional consultations, senior-level exchanges and joint military training. One of the most prominent examples is African Lion, the annual multinational exercise involving Moroccan, US and other participating forces. The exercise has become an important platform for operational training and interoperability among participating militaries.

The discussions also come as Morocco and the United States continue to develop a broader defence relationship that includes military equipment, training, maintenance and technical support. US government data and recent reporting have highlighted major Moroccan programmes involving American defence systems, including F-16 aircraft and related modernization and support packages.

During the meeting, Loudyi highlighted Morocco’s position regarding its territorial integrity and expressed appreciation for what Moroccan authorities describe as US support for Morocco’s sovereignty and its position on the Moroccan Sahara. These statements reflect Morocco’s established diplomatic position, while the broader dispute remains part of the international political process.

The Moroccan official also referred to South-South cooperation and regional integration initiatives promoted by Morocco, presenting the country’s wider African engagement as part of its approach to regional stability and economic development. The US delegation, for its part, highlighted Morocco’s role in regional security and stability, according to the Moroccan defence authorities.

The talks also point toward areas of cooperation extending beyond conventional military equipment. Defence industry, cybersecurity and space technologies are increasingly important components of modern security partnerships, particularly as governments invest in digital resilience, advanced communications, unmanned systems and technological capabilities.

The meeting follows a period of continued expansion in Moroccan-US military cooperation. Recent developments have included the development of the Africa Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Center, or AMTEC, in Tan-Tan, which has been presented as a platform for training, experimentation and defence innovation. Moroccan and US forces have also continued joint exercises and operational training.

For both countries, maintaining regular military dialogue provides a framework for coordinating training, improving interoperability and addressing evolving security challenges. The latest discussions indicate that the partnership is increasingly being considered across several technological and industrial fields, alongside its established focus on military training and operational cooperation.