Marrakesh – Morocco decided to create two military industrial zones, in a new step aimed at strengthening the path of localization of the military industry. It also signed an agreement with the giant Indian company Tata Advance Systems to establish a factory in Greater Casablanca to manufacture advanced defense equipment.
Morocco is not limited to manufacturing this equipment, but has also turned to developing other military industries such as drones and electronic warfare equipment, putting on hold a number of requests for offers to import weapons. The Moroccan company AeroDrive announced this month the success of the first test of the Atlas drone. , designed for military missions.
According to a number of experts, this trend confirms Rabat’s ambition to become a regional leader in the field of military industry, reinforced by raising the defense budget for the year 2025.
Localization of industry
Strategic affairs researcher Hisham Moatadid confirms to Al Jazeera Net that thinking about the localization of the military industry is part of a long-term strategy to enhance Rabat’s independence in the field of defense and achieve defense sovereignty, and this trend can be traced to the beginning of the third millennium, but a new push has emerged in the last decade in light of the transformations. Regional and international geopolitics.
He adds that this step is not just a response to a local need, but rather is part of a comprehensive shift in Morocco’s approach to national security, as the state relies on developing its own capabilities for military manufacturing, and reduces dependence on the outside to secure sensitive equipment.
This is confirmed by political science professor Mohamed Bentalha Doukkali to Al Jazeera Net, pointing out that the desire for a Moroccan military industry falls within the framework of a national project that is well aware of geostrategic motives and regional balances, especially since Morocco’s geographical location places it within a position of overlapping interests and stakes.
Bentalha confirms that during the reign of King Mohammed VI, Morocco was keen on adopting a new strategic approach based on openness to the localization of the military industry, in an effort to ensure strategic superiority in its regional environment, which would contribute to reducing the bill for importing weapons from abroad, and to strengthening the national economy through Creating Moroccan companies specialized in the field.
Legal basis
Morocco strengthened its legal arsenal by approving a law requiring the creation of two defense manufacturing zones. The decree carries great strategic implications, as it reflects the intention to establish an integrated defense infrastructure that allows for the manufacture and development of special weapons systems, according to researcher Mutadid.
He adds that according to the theory of realism in international relations, which focuses on strengthening national power as a means of maintaining security and independence, this decree is a practical step to strengthen Rabat’s position as an independent regional actor, capable of meeting its defense needs without excessive reliance on external alliances. The decree has a technical aspect, as it relates to strengthening national security by securing internal sources of armament.
Meanwhile, Bentalha explains that legalization is an important step towards starting the military industry, stressing that the Moroccan army is considering a national project for the Moroccan military industry, in addition to its interest in developing scientific and engineering research programs, and working to develop its military and security capabilities at the African and international levels.
High budget
During the last five years, the Moroccan national defense budget recorded qualitative leaps, which were reinforced by the adoption of a budget for the year 2025 amounting to about 133 billion dirhams ($13 billion) for “acquisition and repair of military equipment and supporting the development of the defense industry,” an increase of nearly 9 billion dirhams ($873 million). ) over last year, and an increase of more than 37 billion dirhams ($3.5 billion) over the year 2019.
Bentalha explains that the increase in the budget is to cover the expenses of purchasing and maintaining military equipment, but it also comes in the context of Morocco’s strategy to develop the defense industry, noting that this includes improving the conditions of members of the Moroccan army, by raising their wages according to their military ranks, and about 8 billion have been allocated for this. dollar.
While Moataded asserts that the increase in spending according to the theory of defense economics may be necessary to create the appropriate conditions for the transition to local production. After building local capabilities, Morocco can gradually reduce its dependence on imports, and this contributes to reducing future military expenditures.
From a geopolitical standpoint, this enhances the power of military deterrence and enables Morocco to keep pace with regional and international developments. In light of a changing and unstable security environment, this increase is necessary to maintain the strategic balance with competing regional powers.
An important partnership
Morocco maintains partnerships with a number of leading countries, but the initiation of a defense equipment factory on the outskirts of the city of Casablanca, the economic capital of the Kingdom, in partnership with the Indian company, has an important strategic significance, and constitutes an advanced step in strengthening Morocco’s capabilities in the field of defense industries, especially in the field of defense industries. There has been a growing trend towards self-sufficiency in military industries.
Security and strategic expert Mohamed Al-Tayyar highlighted to Al-Jazeera Net that the degree of the security dilemma facing Morocco’s regional surroundings, whether in the African Sahel region or elsewhere, prompted him to enter significantly into the field of military industrialization.
The pilot confirms that India has an advanced military industry and has firmly established itself in the field of advanced, precise and diverse military and security industries. This agreement will strengthen the strategic project that Morocco has drawn up to localize the military industry locally.
While Moataded explains that this agreement shows a shift in Rabat’s path towards reducing its dependence on traditional partners in Europe and North America, by expanding cooperation with other countries such as India, as Morocco seeks to diversify its defense and technological sources, which is in line with the balance theory that indicates the importance Diversifying partnerships to improve the strategic balance with regional and international powers. This agreement is also a step towards achieving strategic independence in the defense weapons industry.
Opportunities and challenges
Moroccan military doctrine is based on three basic principles, including: neighborhood, solidarity, and partnership. Competitiveness in the field of defense technology is one of the biggest challenges facing developing countries seeking to develop local military industries. Experts believe that the phrase “Made in Morocco” will truly be considered a source of pride.
The pilot points out that Morocco obtains advanced technological systems through partnerships with its allies, and many Moroccan experts and technicians are undergoing intensive training, with others returning from abroad, and Morocco has launched development and scientific research programs in partnership with universities. And Moroccan institutes, and the establishment of the Royal Center for Defense Studies and Research affiliated with the Royal College of Postgraduate Military Studies was also announced. !
Moataded adds that Morocco relies – in addition to its qualified human resources capable of dealing with advanced technology – on the theory of “clustering industries”, which has made it obtain an advanced industrial infrastructure in a way that enhances competitiveness and increases the chances of success, and this theory constitutes a model that can be applied in the localization of… Defense industries.
It is also based on its successful experience in the automobile and aircraft industry, which has gained an international reputation over the past two decades, as this reflects its ability to attract foreign investments and transfer technology.
