Morocco received $36,000 in fiscal year 2023 as part of a wider US effort that has seen over $1 billion invested since 1993 to help countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) destroy conventional weapons and improve regional stability and security, according to a new report from the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
Morocco is among several Middle Eastern and North African nations benefitting from a US initiative to bolster regional stability through conventional weapons destruction.
In fiscal year 2023, the United States provided more than $63 million to support conventional weapons destruction programs in eight MENA countries, including Morocco, which has received a total of over $2 million in US assistance for conventional weapons destruction.
The United States is the world’s leading donor of conventional weapons destruction assistance, providing more than $5 billion to over 125 countries and territories since 1993.
In fiscal year 2023, the State Department invested over $348 million in conventional weapons destruction programs worldwide.
In addition to financial assistance, the United States also provides training and technical expertise to help MENA countries destroy conventional weapons safely and effectively.
For example, the US Navy’s Africa Command and the Utah National Guard, with funding from the Department of Defense, continue to conduct explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) training with the Moroccan Armed Forces.
The destruction of conventional weapons has a significant positive impact on MENA communities. For example, the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) has allowed for the revitalization of cultural and historical sites in countries like Iraq.
The destruction of stockpiles of outdated weapons helps to prevent them from falling into the hands of criminals, terrorists, and other dangerous actors.
“The United States is committed to helping our partners in the MENA region safely secure, manage, and destroy their old weapons,” said Jessica Lewis, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. “This assistance is essential to promoting stability and security in the region.”
The United States is a strong supporter of responsible arms management and nonproliferation efforts worldwide. The country is a party to a number of international treaties on arms control and nonproliferation, and it provides assistance to other countries to implement these agreements.
The United States also works to promote responsible arms trade practices and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
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