Morocco and the United States continue to strengthen their cooperation on security and the fight against terrorist and criminal groups.
Staunch ally
Close relations between Morocco and the United States
The latest example of this collaboration is the new visit of Michael Langley, General of the Marine Corps and head of AFRICOM, the US military command for Africa. This is General Langley’s third visit to North Africa.
The Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defence Administration, Abdellatif Loudiyi, received US Army General Michael Langley at the headquarters of the National Defence Administration. During the meeting, which took place in the presence of the US ambassador accredited in Rabat, the two officials expressed their satisfaction with the level of excellence achieved by military cooperation relations, consolidated by the contributions of the roadmap for the 2020-2030 defence partnership, according to an official communiqué from the General Staff of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR).
The two welcomed the collaborative ties monitored by the Defence Consultative Committee, which is held alternately in Rabat and Washington, enhanced by the regular exchange of visits by senior military and political officials from both countries, the official Moroccan communiqué said.
Loudiyi highlighted the initiative promoted by King Mohammed VI to strengthen Africa’s Atlantic coast in order to consolidate it as an area of peace, stability and shared prosperity, which includes all the countries of the continent’s Atlantic strip. Precisely, the monarch has also promoted the access of the Sahel countries to the Atlantic coast through the Western Sahara and the entire Moroccan coastline in order to favour trade with the countries in the area.
General Michael Langley took the opportunity to highlight Morocco’s role, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, as an agent of stability and peace for Africa.
Michael Langley’s visit to Morocco – PHOTO/FILE
Staunch ally
The United States considers Morocco a reliable security ally because of its important role in maintaining security and stability in North Africa and the Sahel, an area where dangerous terrorist groups and criminal gangs engage in activities such as illegal trafficking, including human smuggling. These groups have a negative impact on the region and also on international security, especially in Europe due to its proximity to the African continent.
As a result of this trust, collaboration between the two countries has grown closer, and there are many examples of collaboration in military exercises and meetings between the two countries’ top security officials.
In terms of military manoeuvres, one of the best examples is the African Lion, military exercises in which Morocco, the United States and dozens of African countries participate, focused on training for the fight against Jihadist extremists and criminal organisations operating in North Africa and the Sahel.
Michael Langley’s visit to Morocco – PHOTO/FILE
The upcoming African Lion 2024 joint military exercises are scheduled for 19 April to 31 May in the regional enclaves of Agadir, Tan Tan, Mahbes, Tata, Kenitra, Ben Guerir and Tifnit, and are intended to develop the capabilities of the Royal Armed Forces and the military forces of participating countries, including several African nations, as well as to detail operational planning and preparation.
US confidence is also demonstrated by US Senator Dan Sullivan’s statements, backed by other US policymakers, urging the relocation of AFRICOM’s headquarters to Morocco.
“I participated in a tour with seven senators of the Abraham Accords countries, starting in Morocco. A very important ally. One of our oldest allies in the world […] I think it’s time to move AFRICOM headquarters somewhere in Africa. Morocco? I think that would be a very good candidate,” said Dan Sullivan himself.
As for high-level meetings, for example, Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Surveillance of National Territory (DGSN-DGST), Abdellatif Hammouchi, has held meetings to coordinate security issues, such as those with the Director of the American Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and Avril Haine, Director of National Intelligence of the United States.
Michael Langley’s visit to Morocco – PHOTO/FILE
Close relations between Morocco and the United States
Morocco is one of the United States’ oldest allies. In fact, the Moroccan kingdom was the first country to officially recognise US independence in 1777. On the other hand, it should be recalled that the diplomatic relationship was recently strengthened thanks to the decision of the American giant to recognise the Moroccan status of the Sahara in December 2020, by decision of the last administration of Donald Trump, a line that has been continued by the current administration of Joe Biden. The North African country has also received the backing of many other important countries for its proposal for Western Sahara, such as Israel, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and Spain, which consider the Moroccan initiative to be the most serious, credible and realistic way of resolving the Saharawi conflict.
Morocco’s proposal is based on broad autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, respecting UN resolutions. A formula that aims to develop the region as much as possible by giving the Saharawis a large measure of self-rule while leaving foreign policy and security in the hands of the Moroccan state.
The support given by the United States on the Western Sahara issue also had to do with the establishment of diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords, whereby several Arab countries established relations with the Israeli state, under US auspices, with a view to promoting development in various areas and fostering security by pacifying the Middle East region, all in the face of common enemies that destabilise the region, such as the Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Publish date : 2024-02-22 08:00:00
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