Rabat – The second meeting of the Moroccan-Saudi joint military commission took place on Tuesday, November 3, in Rabat. The meeting focused on the results of the bilateral military cooperation between the two kingdoms and looked towards future activities.
Lieutenant General Abdelfattah Lourak, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco (FAR), and Saudi Arabia’s chief of international military cooperation co-chaired the meeting.
Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported that the meeting focused on several areas of common interest. The participants discussed the various aspects of military cooperation and expressed their satisfaction with the “excellent partnership” between Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
Participants also voiced their willingness to strengthen relations between the two armies by sharing experience and expertise, MAP added.
The military cooperation between the two royal armed forces is based on the deep historical ties between Morocco and Saudi Arabia, according to a statement by the FAR General Staff.
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The two countries signed a framework agreement for military and technical cooperation in December 2015. The agreement touches on training, logistical support, transfer of military expertise, military medical services, and the exchange of visits.
While the relationship between Morocco and Saudi Arabia has historically been strong, bilateral relations reached a low in March 2019 when Morocco recalled its ambassador to Riyadh. The move came shortly after Morocco withdrew its military forces from the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
Amid these tensions, King Mohammed VI sent a message of good wishes and “fraternity” to King Salman of Saudi Arabia in April 2019. The Saudi monarch warmly received the message, and tensions between the two kingdoms have since quelled.
King Mohammed VI sent his congratulations to King Salman on November 30 as the Saudi monarch celebrated five years on the throne.
In the same message, King Mohammed VI reiterated his determination to work with King Salman to strengthen the relations between their countries in order to serve their peoples’ interests.
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