Morocco is attending the “Blue Whale 2026” maritime drill, an international anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise hosted by Turkey Navy in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The multinational exercise, organized from 9 to 20 November, brings together navy units from the United States, Turkey, Pakistan, Spain and Greece, while Indonesia, Morocco, Iraq, Mozambique, Mauritania, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are participating as observers.
The goal of the exercise is to enhance anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, improve joint operational readiness, and strengthen coordination among air, surface, and submarine naval units.
It is also designed to test and maximize participating forces’ ability to detect, track, and engage submarines on transit and patrol duty. The maritime drill seeks to enhance multinational interoperability, tactical coordination and cooperation among NATO allies and partner & friendly nations.
Morocco’s participation in the “Blue Whale 2026” reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its military cooperation with its international partners and expanding opportunities for the exchange of expertise in the maritime warfare due to the growing importance of maritime security, the protection of trade routes and strategic infrastructure in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Furthermore, Morocco is studying plans to acquire its first-ever military submarines to modernize the Royal Moroccan Navy and strengthen surveillance along the Strait of Gibraltar and its 3,500 km coastline.
