Rabat – Naval Group, French industrial group specialized in naval defense manufacturing, is reportedly “threatened” after the announcement of negotiations between Morocco and the Italian competitor Fincantieri for the purchase of two multi-mission navy frigates.
Italian press sources disclosed ongoing negotiations between Morocco and Italian company Fincantieri, to provide the Moroccan Royal Navy with FREMM (European Multi Mission Frigate) units in its anti-submarine version.
French newspaper La Tribune reports that if the deal is secured, it would hurt France’s interests, suggesting that Naval Group feels threatened by the negotiations with Italy.
Naval Group sold a multi-mission frigate to Morocco ordered in 2007 (stealth frigate Fremm Mohammed VI), in service with the Royal Moroccan Navy since 2014.
Naval Group’s interests are not exclusive to the military fleet. The French company has proposed a project to take over infrastructure in the port of Casablanca, the second largest port in Morocco.
Additional sale prospects include two 90-meter long French ocean-going OPV patrol vessels (Offshore Patrol Vessels). Two French industrialists, CMN and Kership, are competing for the deal pertaining to this purchase.
Italian competitor Fincantieri recently pierced both the Egyptian and Indonesian markets, and is eying Morocco, Greece, and Saudi Arabia for future partnerships and sales. Fincantieri also secured a 17-unit order from the United States, some of which have already been supplied.
Outperformed by its Italian competitor, France has decided to react.
According to La Tribune, Naval Group decided to send a delegation to Morocco next week, “to assess the damage” and determine whether Morocco is seriously considering the purchase.
This year, Morocco has overtaken Algeria to become Africa’s leading importer of French weaponry in 2020, purchasing over 425.9 million euros (MAD 4.5 billion) worth of arms.
Although Morocco purchases 91% of its arms from the US, more than any other country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), France is still the country’s main source for naval equipment.
The Moroccan Royal Navy is modernizing its fleet and strengthening its maneuvering capabilities. The objective is to face the new security challenges in the Mediterranean, from its naval base in Ksar Sghir, as well as along the Atlantic coast.
Moroccan frigates and warships have participated in recent naval exercises alongside the United States and allied countries.
The remarks by Naval Group come amid a time of renewed tensions between Morocco and France. French media have presented various speculative stories based on the recently released Pegasus Project. Morocco’s government has rejected both the original findings of the project and the speculative stories coming from the French media.
