US Senators, Moroccan officials discuss defense cooperation, regional security

A delegation of U.S. Senators, led by Jerry Moran, held a meeting in Rabat on Monday with senior Moroccan defense officials that discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation in matters of security, defense, and regional security, the National Defense Administration said in a press release.

The Moroccan side was led by Abdeltif Loudyi, Minister Delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration, and Major General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone, while the American delegation included senators Susan Collins, John Boozman, John Hoeven, and John Cornyn.

The two parties welcomed the dynamism of bilateral cooperation, while expressing their shared will to explore and strengthen new cooperation opportunities, in particular cyber defense, space and the defense industry, the press release said.

The Senators highlighted the excellence of the long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Morocco, strengthened by the bilateral Defense Consultative Committee and the exchange of visits by senior officials of the two countries. They also praised the important role of the Kingdom, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, to serve peace and stability in Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

Loudyi hailed the dense military cooperation and the implementation of the Roadmap for Defense Cooperation, signed in October 2020. The roadmap defines the main areas of cooperation for the period 2020-2030.

Both parties also welcomed the regular holding of the “African Lion” military exercise, particularly its 20th edition which brought together more than 7,000 military personnel from African, Arab, and European countries, in addition to the organizing countries, the United States and Morocco.