Morocco’s National Jersey Takes Center Stage at Reception for Senior U.S. Military Official in Rabat

ALDAR/ Iman Alaoui

In a scene rich in symbolism and meaning, General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Zone, received on Monday, January 12, 2026, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Mr. Brian J. Ellis, at the headquarters of the Royal Armed Forces’ General Staff in Rabat. The visit comes as part of the ongoing momentum in Moroccan–American military relations.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the strength of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States in the defense and security fields—a partnership built on decades of institutional cooperation and close coordination on issues of regional security, counterterrorism, and the promotion of stability across Africa and the Sahel-Sahara region.

In a striking symbolic gesture reflecting deep mutual trust and respect, the Moroccan national team jersey was presented to the American official during the reception. The gesture went beyond traditional military protocol, carrying strong sovereign and cultural significance. The national jersey—embodying unity, a history of struggle, and the symbolism of the Moroccan state—underscored the Kingdom’s determination to anchor its strategic partnerships in a firm national identity and an independent sovereign decision-making process.

This gesture is widely seen as a soft expression of Morocco’s military diplomacy, which increasingly draws on national symbols to assert the country’s standing as a reliable partner—consistent in its positions and open to balanced cooperation grounded in mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

Discussions also addressed prospects for bilateral military cooperation, particularly in training, expertise exchange, and operational readiness, as well as joint exercises—foremost among them the “African Lion” drills, one of the largest multinational military exercises on the African continent, regularly hosted by Morocco in partnership with the United States and allied nations.

The meeting takes on added significance amid Africa’s accelerating geopolitical shifts, with Morocco playing a pivotal role in supporting regional stability through a comprehensive security vision that combines military engagement, human development, and South–South cooperation.

Overall, the reception—and the symbolic presentation of the Moroccan national jersey in particular—underscored that Morocco’s military institution does not rely solely on hard power. It also deploys the tools of smart diplomacy to consolidate the country’s image as a sovereign state with firm foundations and as a strategic partner that commands respect and trust on the international stage.