NATO and Morocco strengthen key ally partnership in North Africa
NATO and Morocco aim to strengthen their key ally partnership after a visit from a delegation of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command to Morocco.
According to government friendly Arab Weekly, Admiral Didier Malterre, the Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command, visited North Africa from April 2nd to the 5th.
The visit aimed to discuss possibilities to enhance military cooperation between NATO and the Moroccan Royal Navy.
During discussions, Malterre touched upon cooperation with Inspector of the Royal Navy Mohammed Tahine whilst also praising the Royal Navy’s efficiency in how it runs its operations and organisations.
The praise by NATO officials such as this shows a clear aim by the organisation to bring Morocco in as a key ally to NATO to handle its operations in the area.
This was recognised by NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood Javier Colomina who has emphasised the “willingness to increase cooperation” by Morocco with NATO compared to other countries in the region.
This has seen Morocco become the leading country for NATO to act within the region. However, this is not a one-way relationship as figures such as Colomina have extensively explained how cooperation offers benefits to both parties.
In an interview in Brussels, Colomina explained Morocco’s “experience and effective military capabilities from which we can learn” and in return, Morocco benefitted from NATO’s ability in command and control, military strategy and interoperability.
The counter-terrorism efforts by Morocco appear to be the key interest of NATO as it offers them the ability through Morocco to build a counterterrorist map.
Morocco, in the past, has proven its ability to dismantle terrorist cells and can offer this ability to NATO.
Whilst Morocco appears to be developing its relationship with NATO, there are still no advanced talks to incorporate the southern country into the organisation itself.
During a visit by the chairman of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer on the 29th of April 2024, there was a clear emphasis, just like the recent visit, that Morocco is a key ally to NATO, with Bauer explaining that “NATO is proud to count Morocco among its partners.” Yet it remains just a partner and not a member.
Perhaps this week’s increasing praise by Malterre is a sign of a potential incorporation, but for now, it appears that increased partnership is NATO’s plan.
The Arab Weekly, PBS, Maghrebi.org
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