Rabat – Morocco is set to increase its defense budget for 2025 to over MAD 133 billion (approximately $13 billion), as part of a strategy to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of rising regional tensions.
The budget increase reflects Morocco’s efforts to enhance national security and keep pace in the ongoing regional arms race.
The proposed defense budget, detailed in the draft finance law (PLF-2025), was presented on Saturday by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, during a joint session of Parliament.
The funds will be directed toward modernizing and maintaining the Royal Armed Forces’ (FAR) equipment and fostering the development of the national defense industry.
Article 39 of the draft law states that the defense allocation for 2025 is set at MAD 133.453 billion ($13 billion), significantly up from MAD 124 billion ($12 billion) in 2024 and MAD 119 billion ($11.4 billion) in 2023.
This increase reflects Morocco’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its military in response to a challenging and unstable regional environment.
The budget boost is also part of the country’s broader plan to develop its domestic defense industry.
The government is moving forward with the creation of two defense industrial acceleration zones, which will allow Morocco to reduce its reliance on foreign military imports and advance its ambitions of becoming a key regional player in defense manufacturing.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which monitors global arms trade, noted a 46% drop in Morocco’s arms imports between 2014-18 and 2019-23.
Despite this decline, the country remains a major arms importer, ranking 29th globally, while its regional rival, Algeria, ranks 21st. Both countries are among Africa’s top military spenders, with Algeria leading the continent at $21.6 billion annually.
In addition to financial increases, Morocco is also focused on upgrading its military assets. The country recently announced a partnership with Indian company Tata Motors to modernize its fleet of WHAP 8×8 armored vehicles.
This modernization effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure Morocco’s armed forces are prepared for the challenges posed by the region’s complex security landscape.
