GEOPOLITICAL MONITOR
On March 5, 2025, the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) of Morocco welcomed a significant addition to their arsenal with the delivery of American AH-64 Apache combat helicopters, marking a major milestone in a multi-year effort to transform the country’s defense capabilities. This acquisition, part of a broader strategy to acquire advanced military systems, underscores Morocco’s response to a shifting regional landscape defined by rivalries, instability, and evolving threats. The biggest rival is Morocco’s immediate neighbor, Algeria, which relies on its resource wealth. Algeria ranks third globally in military spending-to-GDP ratio, behind Ukraine and Israel. Combined with persistent challenges in and around its territories, Morocco has pursued a deliberate transition toward high-tech, interoperable systems to ensure territorial integrity. Beyond the AH-64 Apache helicopters, the acquisitions span broader categories such as drones, artillery, and missile defense systems, illustrating Morocco’s qualitative approach with a strong focus on aerial systems.
This policy brief explores the factors driving Morocco’s strategic military investments, their role in reshaping its defense posture, and the opportunities and challenges they present. What threats do these acquisitions aim to counter? How do they position Morocco in regional and global security frameworks? And can Morocco sustain this modernization while fostering economic and industrial growth?
On March 5, 2025, the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) of Morocco welcomed a significant addition to their arsenal with the delivery of American AH-64 Apache combat helicopters, marking a major milestone in a multi-year effort to transform the country’s defense capabilities. This acquisition, part of a broader strategy to acquire advanced military systems, underscores Morocco’s response to a shifting regional landscape defined by rivalries, instability, and evolving threats. The biggest rival is Morocco’s immediate neighbor, Algeria, which relies on its resource wealth. Algeria ranks third globally in military spending-to-GDP ratio, behind Ukraine and Israel. Combined with persistent challenges in and around its territories, Morocco has pursued a deliberate transition toward high-tech, interoperable systems to ensure territorial integrity. Beyond the AH-64 Apache helicopters, the acquisitions span broader categories such as drones, artillery, and missile defense systems, illustrating Morocco’s qualitative approach with a strong focus on aerial systems.
This policy brief explores the factors driving Morocco’s strategic military investments, their role in reshaping its defense posture, and the opportunities and challenges they present. What threats do these acquisitions aim to counter? How do they position Morocco in regional and global security frameworks? And can Morocco sustain this modernization while fostering economic and industrial growth?
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Auslandsbüro MarokkoÜber diese Reihe
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