General Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), has dismissed, for the time being, the idea of relocating AFRICOM’s headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany, to Morocco.
General Langley said, “from the operational perspective, the cost-benefit analysis, the benefit of moving to Morocco, would not exceed the cost,” in response to a question from Congressman Abraham Hamadeh during the House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “U.S. Military Posture and National Security Challenges in the Greater Middle East and Africa.”
“From a cost analysis perspective, I think we are advantageous of where we’re right now when we look at the overall cost,” he justified, stressing that they would not benefit from moving their headquarters onto the African continent.
Yet Langley, the sixth commander of U.S. Africa Command since August 2022, went on to underscore, “Morocco is a great partner,” adding, “what they do in exporting security is tremendous, especially in the Sub-Saharan countries.”
In his statement before the House Armed Services Committee, General Langley emphasized that Morocco serves as a regional leader by exporting security and fostering economic development throughout Africa, highlighting that the Kingdom provides training to more than 1,200 African partners annually, often at no cost to the trainees.
This strong role as a security exporter, he stressed, is rooted in Morocco’s position as a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
General Langley revealed that in September 2025, Morocco will inaugurate a state-of-the-art Peacekeeping Center of Excellence, cofunded by the United States, which will be capable of training thousands of personnel in critical skills.
The center, he said, will also host strategic-level defense engagements, diplomatic summits, and senior leader peacekeeping training and discussions.
General Langley highlighted, “Morocco as a shining example of a great return on U.S. investment,” emphasizing the country’s vital role in developing the enlisted corps across Africa—a crucial step toward advancing military professionalism on the continent.
He also noted the significance of the African Lion 2025 exercise held in the Kingdom, which involved over 52 nations, including 10 NATO and two non-NATO allies, and more than 10,000 soldiers participating.
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