US-Moroccan military ties deepen, planning document says
US-Moroccan military ties look set to deepen once again under a new 2026 to 2036 roadmap, according to the pro-Moroccan North Africa Post and agencies on June 22nd.
According to a US planning document cited by Moroccan media, the roadmap emphasises drone warfare, artificial intelligence and deeper operational integration.
Under this plan, Morocco is expected to host a regional drone centre of excellence to coordinate air, land, sea, cyber and space operations.
Furthermore, the roadmap outlined the possible establishment of “cooperative security locations”, which are light US military sites designed to enable rapid deployment.
Enhanced interoperability, including integration into advanced data-sharing systems, such as Link-16, is another key roadmap element.
The roadmap highlights a broader effort towards integrated planning and joint execution of operations, particularly in strategic zones, such as the Strait of Gibraltar and the Sahel.
Military cooperation between the US and Morocco has persisted for decades; Lockheed Martin began its Moroccan partnership in 1974 with the delivery of C-130H Hercules tactical airlifter to the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
In March 2025, Morocco purchased 24 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from Boeing, in a contract worth $1.5 billion.
Since 2007, both countries have participated in the African Lion military exercise, which is designed to develop military ties across land, sea, air, and special operations.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has described Morocco as America’s “top African military partner.”
SIPRI data indicate that Morocco is Africa’s largest arms importer, with its main arms suppliers being the US (60%), Israel (24%) and France (10%). Morocco has also developed ties with an Indian defence contractor, MKU.
Moroccan-Israeli ties have also flourished under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, which normalises relations between Israel and Arab countries, such as Morocco, Bahrain and the UAE.
Additionally, the US is one of 130 nations backing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, or Resolution 2797, which would grant the Western Sahara limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty.
Resolution 2797 is widely regarded as a realistic solution to the territorial dispute that has persisted since the end of Spanish colonial rule in 1975.
The US first recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, the same year that the Abraham Accords were signed.
Maghrebi contacted the US Department of War for comment on US-Moroccan partnerships, but has not received a response at the time of publication.
North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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