Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defense Administration, Abdeltif Loudyi, and General Mohamed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), met with a delegation of American senators in Rabat, on Monday, to review bilateral security cooperation and regional security issues.
The meeting’s discussions centered around the strengthening of defense cooperation, particularly regional security challenges, according to a press release by the National Defense Administration.
The senators highlighted “the excellent” long-standing relations of friendship and cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, which have been reinforced through the efforts of the Bilateral Consultative Defense Committee and the exchange of visits by senior officials from both countries.
They also commended the kingdom’s significant role in promoting peace and stability in Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, led by King Mohammed VI.
Loudyi commended the “strong” military cooperation and the implementation of the Roadmap for defense cooperation, signed in October 2020, defining the main areas of cooperation for the period 2020-2030.
Both parties acknowledged the importance of the annual “African Lion” military exercise, first held in 2007 and currently involving over 7,000 military personnel from different countries.
They committed to examining new avenues for cooperation, particularly in the areas of cyber defense, aerospace, and the defense industry.
Led by Senator Jerry Moran, the delegation from the United States included Senators Susan Collins, John Boozman, John Hoeven, and John Cornyn.
The U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, and other diplomatic representatives attended the meeting.