Rabat – In a recent report, American magazine Forbes shed light on Morocco’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities through targeted acquisitions of advanced weapon systems.
The North African country’s approach to enhance its military strength reflects a long-term commitment to modernization that aligns with its security needs.
Forbes highlighted Morocco’s recent acquisitions, including Israeli Barak MX systems obtained through a significant $500 million deal in 2022. Other Israeli military equipment that Morocco acquired include Heron and Harop drones.
Morocco also acquired at least 19 of Turkey’s highly versatile TB2 drones in two procurement phases, added the American magazine.
Forbes said that these acquisitions bear a remarkable resemblance to Azerbaijan’s weapon procurement strategy leading up to the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in late 2020.
The report emphasized the potential strategic value of Morocco’s recent weapon acquisitions, indicating that these advanced systems could play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities in the event of clashes or conflicts.
“While it’s unclear if Morocco could successfully emulate Azerbaijan’s 2020 strategy and overall victory, Rabat undoubtedly took note of that conflict to the extent it may well have influenced most, if not all, of these procurement choices,” the article argued.
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Earlier this month, Morocco’s Royal Air Force received the first batch of the H135M helicopters that the country ordered from Airbus.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Morocco’s military expenditures reached $5 billion in 2022, unchanged from 2021.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s military expenditures dropped by 3.7% in 2022, totaling $9.1 billion.
The two North African countries accounted for nearly 75% of Africa’s military spending.
