Intel: Morocco signs 10-year military cooperation agreement with Pentagon
The United States is building up its alliances in North Africa amid tensions with Russia and China.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita signed a deal today aimen agreement today cementing the two countries’ defense relationship through the next decade.
Full details of the accord, signed during Esper’s visit to Rabat, have not been publicized. But the Pentagon said it would allow the two countries to “improve” their military cooperation, with an emphasis on the annual African Lion multinational exercise led by the United States and Morocco.
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry said the agreement will serve as a “road map for defense cooperation” between the two countries, both in terms of strategic partnership and “shared security goals.”
“Improving the degree of military readiness” is among the priorities, the country’s Royal Armed Forces said in a statement. During the visit, Esper met with Deputy Prime Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi and the inspector general of Morocco’s armed forces, Gen. Abdelfettah Louarak.
