Morocco has considerably increased its Defense budget in recent years. The kingdom plans to allocate more than 124.7 billion dirhams (11.4 billion euros) to strengthen its army in 2024. A figure very close to the Spanish Defense budget.
Morocco, which is working to strengthen and modernize its armed forces, is showing interest in Swiss infantry combat armored vehicles.
The Israeli defense company Elbit Systems announced on Monday its intention to build a factory for the manufacture of weapon ammunition for an international client for about $135 million. Would it be Morocco?
Faced with the eventuality of a large-scale Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip , a major international reaction is looming, according to a former senior Pentagon adviser. Morocco could thus have an extreme reaction.
Morocco far surpasses Spain in terms of land military vehicles and artillery. The kingdom has 1,761 tanks against 327 for Spain, and more than 660 artillery elements, towed and self-propelled, against less than 250 for Spain.
The budget of the Moroccan Ministry of National Defense is expected to reach 124.7 billion dirhams next year, according to the 2024 Finance Bill (PLF). A budget up about 5 billion dirhams from 2023.
Morocco is working to further secure its borders. In this regard, it has obtained a contract worth 2.4 million euros from Spain.
Morocco will allocate nearly $12.1 billion to the Ministry of Defense in 2024. This amount will be used, among other things, for the acquisition of weapons and military equipment.
Morocco’s military budget for 2023 is around 4.67 billion euros (3.6% compared to 2022), against 23.3 billion euros (130% more than in 2022) for Algeria. The two countries are engaged in an arms race that worries Spain.
Washington has decided to donate 500 Bradley and Abrams combat tanks to the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR) as part of the Excess Defence Article (EDA) program.
Morocco’s acquisition of Israeli, Turkish and Chinese weapons is not aimed at attacking anyone, but at deterring any potential aggression by the Algerian army.
The modernization and strengthening of the Moroccan army in recent years is increasingly worrying the Spanish army, which fears Moroccan military superiority in the event of armed conflict.