The White House has just classified Morocco among around forty countries that could serve as conduits for Chinese exports to the United States. The kingdom even appears, alongside Kenya, among the only “African peripheral hubs” identified by Washington.
An unpaid bill or a financial dispute can take an unexpected turn in Morocco. In its new travel recommendations published on August 13, Washington warns its nationals that a debtor may be imprisoned and may even have their passport confiscated.
What was still only a threat has become an effective tax. Washington has definitively imposed a 12.5 % surcharge on the majority of Moroccan products entering the United States, as part of its offensive against forced labor in global supply chains.
Morocco Is Moving into a New Dimension in the U.S. Military Framework . Washington has just added the Kingdom to a network of five sites where defense companies will be able to test drones, counter-drone systems, missiles and new combat technologies. It is the only site in the framework located outside the United States.
The violent storms that struck Morocco and the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of the year left an impressive bill: 126.4 million euros for Hannover Re alone, one of the world’s leading reinsurers.
Military tests conducted by Morocco and the United States in Tan-Tan have crossed into the political sphere. A Canary Islands lawmaker is now demanding explanations from the Spanish government and wants to know why the archipelago was not informed in advance.
Morocco has just hired an American agency to strengthen its communications in the United States. The contract provides for $35,000 a month and details how Rabat intends to better convey its messages in Washington.
A new American cruise missile was tested in Tan-Tan during a live-fire exercise organized with the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. Behind this test lies a much broader project: making Morocco a preferred testing ground for future American military technologies.
A bipartisan bill introduced in Washington provides for designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization if its alleged cooperation with Iran or its allies is confirmed. Its assets could then be frozen and its leaders subjected to financial and travel restrictions.
The United States is linking its military drone projects in Africa. While Ghana is developing manufacturing and testing capabilities, Morocco is to become a hub for training, experimentation and harmonization for several armies on the continent.
Donald Trump has asked his administration to encourage investment and economic development with Morocco, including in the southern provinces. Energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and defense are among the sectors mentioned.
Morocco is included in a new U.S. military license proposal worth at least $50 million. However, the equipment concerned, its manufacturer, and the share intended for the Royal Armed Forces remain confidential.