فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Paris – December 10, 2025
Military relations between Morocco and France have seen significant progress recently, highlighted by the 23rd session of the Moroccan-French Joint Military Committee held in Paris on December 9 and 10, 2025. This was accompanied by a high-level visit of a Moroccan military delegation to “KNDS France,” a leading company in land defense industries.
The Moroccan delegation was led by General de Corps d’Armée Mohamed Brihi, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the Southern Region. The visit focused on exploring opportunities to localize part of the defense industry within Morocco, including technology transfer and establishing joint assembly lines or production facilities.
During meetings with the management of KNDS France — a company formed by the merger of the French Nexter and German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann — the Moroccan delegation was introduced to the latest combat products, most notably the self-propelled “Caesar” artillery and the main battle tank “Leclerc,” alongside other advanced combat vehicles. The visit included a tour of main facilities and manufacturing workshops, providing the delegation with direct insights into production operations.
This activity took place alongside the Joint Military Committee’s work, which set the military cooperation program for 2026, focusing on expanding joint training exercises and enhancing coordination in regional security fields.
Informed sources confirmed that discussions particularly addressed the possibility of establishing defense industrial capacities in Morocco. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on imports and strengthen self-sufficiency in facing regional security challenges. Although no immediate agreements were signed, the presence of representatives from the Moroccan Military Equipment Office signals serious interest in potential future deals.
This approach fits within Morocco’s broader strategy to diversify its defense partnerships while maintaining historically strong ties with France, which remains a key partner despite evolving relations with other countries such as Israel in areas like drones and advanced technology.
The reinforcement of Morocco-France cooperation follows a busy 2025 filled with joint activities, including:
- “Sharqi 2025,” a land exercise held last October in the southeastern desert region.
- “Shebek 2025,” a naval exercise in November focusing on securing Mediterranean navigation.
- A joint security action plan signed in June 2025 to combat terrorism and irregular migration.
Observers believe that successful localization of defense industries could create thousands of jobs, stimulate growth in related sectors, and boost Morocco’s status as a regional hub for military industries, similar to other projects like the planned train manufacturing center with Hyundai Rotem by 2030.
In the same context, France remains a fundamental supporter of Morocco’s territorial integrity, reflecting a strong rebound in bilateral relations after previous tensions, and confirming Morocco’s role as a stable ally in North Africa amid growing security challenges.
These developments mark a new phase of strategic partnership between the two countries, combining French expertise transfer and Morocco’s ambition for technological sovereignty in defense.
