Morocco has increased its arms imports by 12% between 2016–20 and 2021–25, becoming the top arms importer in Africa, according to new data published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The North African Kingdom has been engaged in recent years in upgrading its firepower and boosting military capabilities to counter threats to its national security and regional stability.
Latest SIPRI data, focusing on international arms sales, shows that Morocco’s major suppliers are the United States (accounting for 60% of Kingdom’s overall military deals), followed by Israel (24%) and France (10%).
Morocco’s strategy in developing its military capabilities is based on mutually beneficial partnerships with key western allies, putting emphasis on technology transfer with a view to building its own defence industry.
According to SIPRI report, imports of major arms by African states fell by 41 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, while Imports by Algeria plummeted by 78 per cent with the depletion of hard currency reserves amid deepening social and economic crises.
Globally, the United States supplied 42% of all international arms transfers in 2021–25, up from 36% in 2016–20. The USA exported arms to 99 states in 2021–25, including 35 states in Europe, 18 in the Americas, 17 in Africa, 17 in Asia and Oceania and 12 in the Middle East.
For the first time in two decades, the largest share of US arms exports went to Europe (38%) rather than the Middle East (33%). Nevertheless, the top single recipient of US arms was Saudi Arabia (12 per cent of US arms exports).
“While tensions and conflicts in Asia and Oceania and the Middle East continue to drive large-scale arms imports, the sharp increase in arms flows to European states pushed global arms transfers up almost 10 per cent,” said Mathew George, Director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Program.
“Deliveries to Ukraine since 2022 are the most obvious factor, but most other European states have also started importing significantly more arms to shore up their military capabilities against a perceived growing threat from Russia”, added Mr. Mathew.
Threat perceptions concerning Russia, compounded by uncertainties over the USA’s commitment to defending its European allies, have boosted demand for arms among European member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The 29 current European NATO members’ combined arms imports grew by 143 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The USA supplied 58% of these imports in 2021–25. The next biggest suppliers were South Korea (8.6%), Israel (7.7%) and France (7.4%).
