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Rabat — US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Mallory Stewart, will carry out a visit to Morocco this week.
A statement from the US State Department said the visit started today and will run through October 24, during which the US official will participate in, and serve as a keynote speaker for the Global Conference on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) refers to an agreement seeking to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
The agreement seeks to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, stockpiling as well as their retention.
The event, which is sponsored by Morocco and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat, will discuss the role and work of the organization as well as its engagement with independent scientific experts.
The event’s sidelines will also feature high-level meetings with Moroccan officials and Stewart to discuss emerging security threats.
“Key objectives will include deepening strategic partnerships, sharing mutual perspectives and expertise on regional approaches to risk reduction and exploring opportunities to improve and enhance multilateral disarmament and international security mechanisms,” the State Department said.
During the event, Stewart will hold discussions with representatives from OPCW member parties on maintaining the international norm against the use of chemical weapons.
Morocco has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at combating the use of chemical weapons. The country has also been active in hosting and co-hosting military events alongside the US.
Morocco hosts annually the African Lion, the largest military exercise on the continent, gathering military experts and leaders from many countries.
The US is also Morocco’s large arms supplier.
In 2024, Morocco allocated MAD 124.7 billion ($12.88 billion) towards its defense industry.
Recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) identified Morocco as the 29th largest arms importer worldwide.
The North African country ranked 29th among the 40 largest importers, maintaining the same position it had in SIPRI’s former 2023 report.
