Morocco Strengthens Its Strategic Partnership with the United States in Space and Defense

ALDAR/ Meryem Hafiani

Rabat hosted an important visit by U.S. Brigadier General Jacob Middleton, Commander of U.S. Space Forces Africa, who met with Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defense Administration, in his first official engagement in Morocco.

The visit, set against the backdrop of longstanding ties between Rabat and Washington, clearly highlighted the strength of the strategic partnership between the two nations—extending beyond traditional military cooperation to new domains such as space and advanced technology.

According to U.S. official sources, discussions focused on ways to deepen collaboration in space defense and cybersecurity, while also exploring opportunities to transfer American expertise and develop joint training programs with Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces. This opening toward space is seen as a qualitative leap in defense relations, aligning with Morocco’s drive to modernize its military arsenal and invest in future-oriented technologies.

Morocco is considered one of the United States’ most prominent allies outside NATO, with a long record of joint military exercises such as the “African Lion” drills, along with advanced cooperation in intelligence, maritime security, and counterterrorism. The inclusion of space cooperation in this partnership underscores both countries’ recognition of space as a new arena of global competition and a critical domain for maintaining strategic superiority.

Security assessments indicate that such partnerships enhance Morocco’s ability to adapt to global shifts in defense, particularly as it seeks to develop a modern national defense industry. For Washington, Rabat remains a pivotal partner in ensuring stability across North Africa and the Sahel.

With this development, the visit marks a new chapter in Moroccan-American cooperation—one that now extends beyond training and armament to encompass space and cybersecurity, two fields that are becoming increasingly vital in today’s global power dynamics.