Rabat – After securing new arms deals with China and Israel, Morocco is exploring potential partnerships with India, an emerging supplier of defense technology in Africa.
On October 18, high-level delegations from 37 African countries including Morocco are set to participate in the India-Africa Defense Dialogue on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
The meeting “will explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagement, including in areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter-terrorism,” says the Indian ministry of defense.
The first multilateral dialogue took place in Lucknow, India, in 2020 with the objective of turning India into a potential arms supplier for African countries. This year, 13 African ministers from Angola, Ghana, and South Africa are expected to participate in the event alongside deputy ministers from South Sudan, Malawi, and Uganda.
Meanwhile, Morocco, Egypt, Mali, Kenya, and Zambia are set to be represented by defense officials.
India’s turn to Africa coincides with New Delhi’s reports of significant growth in its defense exports. In September, India’s Press Information Bureau shared that the Indian defense sector “is at the cusp of a revolution” with exports increasing by 334% over the last five years. The bureau added that the country is now exporting to over 75 countries.
In 2014, India launched a major national program, Make in India, aiming to facilitate investment, develop manufacturing infrastructure, and boost innovation and skill development.
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The program was key in advancing the local manufacturing of defense solutions, leading to the creation of the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and the advanced light helicopter MK III squadron. Additionally, New Delhi recently reported the successful testing of Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni P.
Today, India’s export booklet features a variety of defense solutions from bulletproof vests and vehicle armor to anti-drone systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and mine-protected vehicles (MPV).
The Indian selection fulfills Morocco’s military needs given that the country recently purchased China’s Wing Loong II UAV and Israel’s Skylock anti-drone system.
However, Morocco remains heavily reliant on US defense exports with Washington supplying 91% of Rabat’s military equipment.
Meanwhile, the US is the largest export market for India’s defense systems, ahead of Israel, Armenia, the Philippines, and other south-east Asian countries.
India is currently exploring defense export deals with South American countries while participating in defense training programs alongside African states.
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