Rabat – The US Africa Command (Africom) is exploring the possibility of establishing a military base in Morocco, Spanish news outlet La Razon reported.
The newspaper emphasized that US military personnel are using their presence in Morocco during the 2021 African Lion military maneuver to assess Morocco’s capacities as a “strategic base for Africa.”
US Air Forces officers and experts from the 621st Contingency Response Wing under the name of “Devil Riders” are carrying out the assessments in five airfields across Morocco, including the Sahara.
This is not the first time news emerged on potential US interest in establishing a base in Morocco.
In January, reports went viral of the US’ intention to move a military base from Spain to Tan Tan in southwestern Morocco.
The US and Morocco collaborate in different fields, including all things military-related.
The 2021 African Lion kicked off with the participation of several countries, including the UK, Brazil, Canada, Tunisia, Senegal, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Spain has traditionally participated in military exercises. However, due to diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat over Spain’s sheltering of Polisario’s Brahim Ghali, Morocco opposed Spain’s participation in the event.
The US-led military exercise is taking place in different cities across Morocco, including Ben Guerir near Marrakech, Agadir, Tafraout, Mehbes, Tan-Tan, Kenitra, and Tifnit.
African Lion is the largest interoperability exercise organized by Africom.
The large-scale exercise comes weeks after Morocco’s armed forces participated in the Phoenix Express naval training in Tunisia.
The African Lion, which will take place from Monday, June 7-18, will see the participation of 7,800 soldiers, 100 armored vehicles, 46 support aircraft, and 21 combat aircraft.
Naval battleships will also participate in the maneuvers, as well as observers from 30 countries.
The maneuvers train soldiers to respond to worldwide security concerns, such as cyber warfare, global terrorism, and chemical attacks.
