Both countries are committed to promoting cooperation in defence and security matters

Francia y Marruecos afianzan sus lazos en materia de inteligencia

photo_camera AFP/FADEL SENNA - The Minister of the Interior of Morocco, Abdelouafi Laftit

France and Morocco strengthen their historic relationship. During October various French delegations travelled to the Alaouite kingdom to seal and consolidate the commitments of yesteryear that will enable both countries to continue to maintain their hegemony in both Europe and North Africa.

Last week Rabat and Paris reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation in security matters, particularly in terms of exchanging intelligence, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.

The two countries intensified "their judicial cooperation, as well as joint efforts against illegal migration and all kinds of trafficking, including terrorist activities", reads the communiqué issued after the talks in Rabat between the Moroccan Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and his French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin.

These relations are very interesting for France, which is seeing the intensity of relations with Morocco weakened by the presence of the United States. Over the past five years Morocco has reduced its arms purchases from the French country by 62 percent. 

France used to be Morocco's biggest arms supplier, but now the tables have turned. Following the issuing of the collaboration communiqué, the Moroccan and French officials expressed their satisfaction with the co-operation between departments and agreed to strengthen this relationship further at regional and multilateral level.

The French official also met the minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, and held talks with the foreign minister, Nasser Bourita.

Relations between Morocco and France continue to grow closer. Six days ago the French minister of foreign trade visited Casablanca to explore ways of boosting trade with Morocco.

The visit took place in a context where Morocco is seeking to capitalise on its assets, particularly the favourable investment climate and proximity to Europe to attract more French investment as large companies seek to relocate from China.

France is Morocco's second largest trading partner and the leading foreign direct investor in the last 15 years. Nearly 1,000 French companies operate in the Kingdom and employ nearly 100,000 people.

Morocco increases its purchase of international arms

Rabat has increased its investment in military aircraft over the past year, a dynamic that also extends to all areas of its weapons arsenal, one of the largest in Africa. 

It ranges from air defence systems such as 3D radars to short-, medium- and long-range missiles-ground, air-to-ground, air-to-air, counter-rocket and anti-ship-, battle tanks, heavy rolling stock recovery vehicles, rocket launchers, munitions of all types and calibres, advanced radio equipment and state-of-the-art vision systems.

The Alaouite kingdom is implementing a policy of diversifying its sources of defence material supplies and conducts a large part of its transactions through government-to-government agreements with France, China, Russia and, to a lesser extent, South Africa, Austria and the United Kingdom. Finally, it also has marginal relations with the Spanish defence industry. 

But its main supplier is the United States, whose companies supply Rabat with significant quantities of top-quality weapons. In little over a year and a half the Trump Administration has authorised the sale of weapons systems to King Mohammed VI for over $12 billion (10.68 billion euros).

These contracts directly benefit the powerful US defence and aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Orbital ATK, General Dynamics, McKinney, Chemring and Kaman Precision. 

One of the most recent and largest purchase packages made by Morocco involves the expansion and renewal of the Royal Air Force's fleet of fighter planes. Similarly, in March 2019 Rabat was given the go-ahead to purchase 25 new F-16 C/D Block 72 fighters-the most advanced production version-including numerous new capabilities and structural improvements.

More in Politics