Morocco aerospace expansion deepen ties with France
Morocco’s aerospace industry has entered a new stage of expansion, according to a report by the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post on October 15th.
King Mohammed VI was in attendance when the project was unveiled on October 13th; the project is part of the nation’s transformation to a centre of aviation manufacturing and services.
Ross McInnes, Chairman of Safran’s Board, said, “The presence of His Majesty the King at the launch ceremony speaks volumes about Morocco’s commitment to industrial development. It also reflects the exemplary investment climate fostered by a forward-looking and consistent national vision.”
The project also signals the Kingdom’s global integration, as it marks the launch of a major aircraft engine complex by Safran, a leading French aerospace manufacturer.
This latest project appears to be part of a long-term effort to strengthen ties between the North African Kingdom and France. It was reported on October 7th that the two nations would hold a joint military exercise called “Charqi 2025”.
The joint military exercise is reportedly scheduled to take place in the southeastern province of Errachidia and is part of what both countries’ defence ministers described as a “long-standing partnership” aimed at advancing preparedness for regional security concerns.
France’s Ministry explained that “Charqi 2025 goes beyond the operational dimension, serving as a testament to the strength of the Franco-Moroccan strategic partnership. It seeks to enhance interoperability, develop tactical and technical expertise, and address regional security challenges amid an increasingly unstable international context.”
On June 28th, the arrest of an Islamic State-aligned student who had allegedly been plotting a terror attack on a religious site in Rabat occurred due to cooperation between Moroccan and French security services.
The disruption of the terror attack plan came just days after the French military announced on X that France had begun a joint military exercise with Morocco on June 24th.
The initiative was called “Marathon 2025” and emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and operational strategies; the event occurred on Moroccan territory.
France is not the only country with which Morocco is developing ties, as reported on June 20th, when the Kingdom was said to be hoping to acquire F-35 fighter jets from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
India announced the opening of its first overseas defence plant in Casablanca on September 22nd, as Defence Minister Abdeltif Loudiyi and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh signed an agreement to strengthen military cooperation in Rabat.
Similarly, reports on October 13th showed that Morocco was hosting kamikaze drone trials with Israeli defence firm BlueBird Aero Systems; the tests were reportedly conducted to study how the drones targeted large, complex objects, such as armoured vehicles and tanks.
Morocco’s defence budget was believed to rise to $13 billion, according to reports on October 20, 2024; this was up from $12 billion in 2024.
North Africa Post, Maghrebi.org
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