Morocco Joins Group of Arms Producers, Focuses on Drone Industry

Rabat – Morocco is planning to establish a domestic arms industry with a focus on manufacturing drones, according to a statement by Morocco’s Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of the National Defense Administration Abdellatif Loudiyi.

In June 2021, Morocco’s Council of Ministers adopted law 10.20 on defense and security materials and equipment, arms, and ammunition. The text set out the legal framework for the manufacture, transport, trade, import, and export of military equipment.

On Friday, Loudiyi confirmed Morocco’s plans to establish a domestic arms industry during a meeting of his department with the Committee for Foreign Affairs at the House of Representatives. The meeting was organized to review the ministry’s budget for the 2023 finance law.

Morocco’s debut in the global group of arms manufacturers represents a turning point for the country’s defense industry, given that the country is currently reliant on arms supplies from the US, France, and the UK. China and Israel have recently emerged as key defense partners for Morocco while India is similarly eyeing the North African market.

According to the 2023 finance bill, Morocco is set to allocate MAD 119.8 billion ($11 billion) for its defense budget, up by nearly MAD 4 billion ($369 million) compared to last year.

The increase in the defense budget is likely to be directed to the development of the country’s emerging arms industry, turning the country from a major importer of arms to a potential regional hub for the manufacturing of drones and other defense equipment.

Morocco can notably learn from the know-how and experience of its traditional partners such as the US as well as from new allies such as Israel to advance its security ambitions.

The Indian experience can also provide learning lessons to the country given that India, a former importer of arms, has succeeded in establishing a domestic defense within a few years. In 2014, the country launched a major national program, dubbed “Made in India,” to attract investment, develop its manufacturing infrastructure, and boost capacity-building and innovation.

The strategy helped revolutionize the country’s defense sector and boosted its arms exports by 334% in the span of five years. Today, New Delhi is exporting a variety of arms and ammunition to over 75 countries.

Morocco has the potential to create its own success story and preserve its territorial integrity amid ongoing tensions with Algeria.