Morocco modernizes military through cooperation with Israel

Five years after normalizing relations through the Abraham Accords, Morocco is significantly modernizing its military through close cooperation with Israel. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel has replaced France as Morocco's second-largest arms supplier, holding a 24% market share, trailing only the United States at 60%.

This partnership focuses on air defense systems, drones, radar, and precision artillery. Beyond commercial transactions, the two nations signed a “joint military work plan” earlier this year to establish permanent dialogue structures, joint industrial projects, and capacity-building maneuvers.

This shift follows Morocco's efforts to upgrade an aging military infrastructure that previously relied on outdated aircraft and diverse, uncoordinated equipment. Since 2018, Morocco has reinstated mandatory military service and passed legislation to develop its own domestic defense industry, supported by a military budget that has doubled since 2010.