Rabat – New data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has recently identified Morocco as the 29th largest arms importer worldwide.
Morocco ranked 29th among the 40 largest importers, maintaining the same position it had in SIPRI’s former report of 2023.
According to the new 2024 report, the US continues to maintain its position as the largest exporter of arms to Morocco with 69%, followed by France (14%), and Israel (11%).
The report acknowledged a major decrease in imports of major arms by African states between 2014 and 2018 as well as between 2019 and 2023.
The report attributed the situation to the decrease in the arms imports of the two largest importers, including Algeria and Morocco.
Morocco’s arms imports decreased by -46% while Algeria’s imports dropped by -77%.
On the ranking, SIPRI listed Algeria in the 21st rank compared to its previous position of 18 in the previous report last year.
Russia maintains its top position as the largest exporter of arms to Algeria with 48%, followed by Germany (15%), and China (14%).
Morocco and Algeria have been topping the list of largest arms importers in Africa for years. Both countries have been investing in their militaries to upgrade their army resources and equipment.
In 2024, Morocco allocated MAD 124.7 billion ($12.88 billion) to the defense industry.
Algeria continues to invest more billions compared to Morocco in its military. According to Agenzia Nova, Algeria’s defense budget for this year has been set at $21.6 billion in 2024.
It is slightly lower than the $22 billion budget allocated a year earlier.
Largest international exporters
SIPRI also listed the largest exporters of arms and their main recipients, putting the US first.
The primary recipients of US arms are Saudi Arabia, followed by Japan, and Qatar.
France is the second largest supplier of arms, and India is its first client, followed by Qatar and Egypt.
Russia comes third as the largest exporter of arms, with India topping the list of its clients, followed by China, and Egypt.
Spain and Israel are 8th and 9th on the list of largest arms exporters, respectively.
Israel’s major clients are India, the Philippines, and the US.
“US and French arms exports rose between 2014–18 and 2019–23, while Russian, Chinese, and German arms exports fell,” SIPRI reported,, adding that the US and states in Western Europe together accounted for 72% of all arms exports between 2019 and 2023.
