Major General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of Morocco’s South Zone met with U.S. Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Jennifer Zakriski, accompanied by US General Kenneth P. Ekman and U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar on Tuesday at the FAR General Staff headquarters in Rabat, according to the FAR statement.
Berrid and Talwar discussed the strong ties between Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces and the U.S. military, highlighting their cooperation through comprehensive joint activities, added the statement.
They acknowledged the deep historical relationship between Morocco and the U.S., dating back to the 1786 Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss multiple facets of military cooperation, with a particular emphasis on the defense industry, military equipment acquisition, technological support, logistical coordination, training, technology transfer, and enhancing bilateral disaster management efforts.
The bilateral discussions also centered around the role of Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces in peacekeeping, an area in which Morocco has received recognition for promoting peace, security, and regional collaboration.
Moroccan-US military cooperation, driven by an extensive set of accords outlined in the previously negotiated 2020-2030 framework, seeks to develop a strategic partnership to address security concerns and will encompasse strategic dialogue, joint training, exercises, collaboration programs with the Utah National Guard, financial support, and the provision of equipment.