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Rabat – The US administration has pulled Morocco to its side back to negotiate the supply of the MIM-104 Patriot American air defense system, according to Spanish news outlet Defensa.
Washington has already imposed sanctions on all countries that acquired the Russian missile system, such as the case of North Korea, Iran, China, and Turkey.
Complying with the US penal code, many US allies including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Morocco withdrew from dealing with the Russian, while Iraq continues to use the Russian air defense system to pressure the US.
Morocco has already shown its intention to buy Chinese air defense systems “HQ-9B” or French SAMP-T, but negotiations with Russia were the most advanced.
Defensa also reported that the Moroccan army lacks any long-range air defense system, unlike neighboring Algeria, which acquired in recent years a very advanced Russian and Chinese missile system.
Morocco considered Algeria’s acquisition of Russian and Chinese missiles as a threat which prompted it to urgently seek an air defense system to enhance its air capabilities.
Many countries in the Middle East have Patriot Air Defense Systems, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Kuwait, and Qatar. Others, including Bahrain, are on the waiting list to receive the system.
The American Patriot system is a medium-range surface-to-air missile defense system against all air threats, whether fighter or unmanned aircraft, ballistic missiles or even raft missiles.
After its introduction in 2002, the American air defense system was later upgraded by several US military technology companies.
The MIM-104 Patriot system was tested during the first Gulf War and received modifications afterward.
