The United States is doubling down on its military partnership with Morocco, even as it scales back support for Ukraine and some NATO allies, according to a recent report of Mondafrique.
The strengthening of the partnership is evident in the high-profile ceremony at the 1st Royal Air Force Base in Salé where the first batch of six Apache AH-64E attack helicopters was officially delivered to Morocco out of a total order of 36.
This increased military cooperation comes under the leadership of President Donald Trump, now in his second term. Trump, who has a long-standing admiration for Morocco’s royal family, is seen as reinforcing Washington’s commitment to its North African partner.
Further fueling speculation about a shift in U.S. military strategy is the possibility of relocating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany, to Kenitra.
Reports in the Spanish press suggest that Washington has studied this option closely, seeing Morocco as a more strategically advantageous location for overseeing operations in Africa and the southern Mediterranean.
Trump’s ties with Morocco date back to 1992, when he was received by the late King Hassan II. Now, 33 years later, his administration is speeding up defense collaboration with the kingdom.
While the U.S. treats Morocco like any other country regarding development aid, military ties are on a different trajectory.
Morocco has been a regular host of large-scale joint exercises such as “African Lion,” one of the continent’s biggest military maneuvers, which brings together U.S. and Moroccan forces alongside other allied nations.
The upcoming edition, set for May 12-23, 2025, will take place across multiple Moroccan cities, including Agadir, Tantan, Tiznit, Kenitra, Benguerir, and Tifnit.
Not everyone is thrilled about these developments. Spanish media outlets, including EL INDEPENDIENTE and LA RAZÓN, have expressed concerns that Morocco’s acquisition of Apache helicopters exposes Spain’s own vulnerability in aerial combat capabilities.
On the diplomatic front, Trump has also moved quickly to secure allies in the region. On March 8, he announced via Truth Social that Duke Buchan III, a close confidant and former U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra, would take up the post of U.S. ambassador to Morocco.
Meanwhile, Politico reports that John Peter Pham, a well-known advocate of strong U.S.-Morocco ties, is being considered for the role of Assistant Secretary of State for Africa.
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