Rabat – The US extended an invitation to Morocco, a non-NATO major ally to take part in a high-level military summit on Ukraine on Wednesday.
US Secretary of Defense Llyod Austin chaired the high-level meeting at the Ramstein Air Force Base.
FAR Maroc, an online Facebook page on Moroccan military matters reported that Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of the National Defense Administration, Abdellatif Loudyi represented Morocco in the Defense Consultative Group meeting.
The US invited 43 countries to take part in the event, including 14 non-NATO allies, according to Breaking Defense.
The defense-related news outlet said it reviewed the invitation list, which contained countries from all continents — including the Middle East and Africa.
The event sought to discuss how allies and partners can table more support measures for Ukraine amid the Kyiv-Moscow conflict.
In addition to Morocco, Tunisia, Qatar, Jordan, Liberia, and Kenya participated in the event.
Morocco is one of a number of countries that have been expressing concerns about the situation in Ukraine, calling on the parties to the conflict to engage in a direct dialogue to end the dispute.
The North African country, however, has been emphasizing its non-interference approach.
In April, Morocco abstained from a UN vote on a resolution that sought to suspend the membership of Russia in the Human rights council.
The North African country also abstained from UN General Assembly votes, including one on March 2nd.
In response to criticism about its absence, Morocco emphasized its non-interference poison in order to push for genuine conflict resolution efforts instead of further escalating the conflict.
On March 2, Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that its non-participation in the vote should not be “subjected to any interpretation.”
“The Kingdom of Morocco recalls that, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Members of the Organization must settle their disputes by peaceful means and according to the principles of international law, in order to preserve world peace and security,” the ministry said.
On March 29, Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita said that Morocco’s position is very “clear and it has been expressed many times.”
The minister emphasized that the North African country is in favor of the “territorial integrity and national unity of Ukraine, as of all the member states of the United Nations,” Bourita said.
Morocco is also “against the use or the recourse to force in settling disputes. We are in favor of constructive neighborhood relations, and we are in favor of dialogue and negotiation to solve issues,” he said.
Inviting African countries could be less about Russia
Breaking Defence quoted Elizabeth Shackelford, a former State Department official who said that Morocco’s inclusion as well as other countries in Africa “may be less about Russia and more about combating China’s growing influence on the continent.”
The former US official appeared to suggest that the US is seeking to regain ground on the continent.
“China has been a strategic partner to both Kenya and Liberia, but the US still holds greater sway in each. Kenya is an influential country on the continent, so getting it on board with the west is important,” she said.
Morocco maintains good and strong economic and diplomatic cooperation with both the US and China.
Morocco and the US share a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which entered into force in 2006.
“Since the entry into force of the FTA, the U.S. goods trade surplus with Morocco has risen to $1.8 billion in 2011, up from $79 million in 2005 (the year prior to entry into force),” according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.
China is also one of Morocco’s trade partners. According to recent data from China’s National Development and Reform Commission, direct Chinese investments in Morocco reached $380 million in infrastructure, mobile parts, telecommunication, and fishery.
In January, Morocco and Chia also signed an agreement making Morocco the first African country to sign up to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Through the initiative, Morocco is expected to become China’s trade hub in Africa.
The invitation to the high-level meeting in Germany also indicates that the position of the invited countries “matters to the US, Shackelford argued.
