Moroccan military ranks 6th in MENA, 61st internationally in new index

Morocco ranked 61st out of 145 countries included in a new report ranking the most powerful armies, coming in sixth in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA).

The “Global Fire Power” index, issued by the American institution specialized in military affairs, gave Morocco a rate of 1.0524, with the index score improving as it gets closer to zero.

The index estimated that the total population ready for military service is at 17,634,350 people, of whom 14,989,197 are fit for military service, adding that the budget allocated for defense at more than USD 1 billion and USD 39 million.

Regarding the air force, the report monitored the country’s disposal of 250 aircraft.

Among them are 82 combat aircraft, 30 transport aircraft, 67 training and combat aircraft, 64 helicopters, and two special mission aircraft.

As for the naval force, the report mentioned the country’s 121 ships and submarines, including six frigates, and 22 naval patrol.

For ground force, the country has 31,972 combat armored vehicles, 453 self-propelled artillery, and 211 towed artillery.

For the MENA region, Egypt topped the list, ranking 14th internationally, followed by Saudi Arabia in the 22nd rank, then Algeria in the 26th rank, Iraq in the 45th rank, and the United Arab Emirates in the 56th rank, followed by Morocco.

At the global level, the United States of America topped the list as the most powerful country militarily, followed by Russia, then China, India and the United Kingdom, South Korea, Pakistan, followed by Japan, France and Italy.

Morocco continues efforts to modernize the Royal Armed Forces and rehabilitate its officers and members, especially after the Kingdom announced the executive’s ambitions to launch a local military industry.

Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate of National Defense, revealed that the Royal Armed Forces mobilized about 50,000 soldiers permanently to guard and control the borders.

National defense also allocated important financial resources to facilitate their movement and training, in addition to the process of repairing and maintaining the security system and electronic border control, which requires an important annual financial budget.