December 14, 2025, 3:02 pm
As I’ve said before, most of the time on this channel, we focus on military developments in Europe or Asia. but the global surge in military spending since 2022 is also playing out in Africa.
A few weeks ago, we talked about the North African state that driving a lot of that growth – Algeria and its surge in purchases of new equipment, including some of Russia’s top tier platforms.
That nature of arms races though is that any one country building up is often going to impact the balance with their neighbours and increase the pressure on them to ramp up in response.
One nation watching the Algerian spending spree particularly closely then, is likely to be neighbouring Morocco -A constitutional monarchy with closer ties to Washington than Moscow & long running tensions with Algiers.
So, for the second time for a nation study on this channel, welcome to North Africa.
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Reading and Sourcing (It’s been a hard day in Aus so these will mostly come on the 16th of December):
Unless otherwise noted, platform counts per Military Balance 2024 by the IISS
IFM Data (Morocco)
https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/MAR
IMF Data (Algeria)
https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/DZA
SIPRI Arms transfer Database
https://armstransfers.sipri.org/ArmsTransfer/TransferData
U.S. EDA Data
https://www.dsca.mil/Programs/Defense-Trade-and-Arms-Transfers/Excess-Defense-Articles
SIPRI – TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, 2024
https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/2504_fs_milex_2024.pdf
RUSI — Morocco as a Strategic Partner in Supporting the Sahel Region’s Security
https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/morocco-strategic-partner-supporting-sahel-regions-security
U.S. GOV – Defence cooperation with Morocco through 2030
https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2369742/us-morocco-chart-defense-cooperation-through-2030/#:~:text=Copy%20Link,the%20two%20nations%20through%202030.
U.S. GOV – Security Cooperation with Morocco
https://2021-2025.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-morocco/
Morocco Abrams
https://media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/09/2003602664/-1/-1/0/MOROCCO_18-08.PDF
Morocco and Indian IFVs
Indian Tata Launches Plant in Morocco to Produce WhAP Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicles
Israeli Govt on Moroccan defence ties
https://www.gov.il/en/pages/israel-and-morocco-sign-historic-defense-mou-24-november-2021
Featured or relevant articles
https://fr.le360.ma/politique/les-far-acquierent-60-vehicules-de-combat-dinfanterie-bmp-3-aupres-de-la-russie-51049/
Morocco receives Chinese anti-aircraft defense system FD-2000B
https://www.armyrecognition.com/archives/archives-land-defense/land-defense-2021/morocco-takes-delivery-of-chinese-fd-2000b-surface-to-air-defense-missile-systems
Morocco receives Chinese FD-2000B air defense missile system
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/morocco-acquire-israeli-spy-satellite-worth-1-bln-media-2024-07-10/
https://www.armyrecognition.com/archives/archives-land-defense/land-defense-2023/morocco-secretly-gets-us-m1a2-sep-v-3-tanks-and-bradley-ifvs
Morocco receives Apaches
Morocco Receives First Set of U.S. AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopters
Pentagon Approves Morocco’s Purchase of Patriot Air Defense System
Caveats & Comments:
All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions.
Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.
Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:32 — What Am I Talking About?
00:02:01 — History & Strategic Context
00:19:18 — the Army
00:41:48 — the Air Force
00:52:46 — the Navy
00:56:28 — the Big Picture
01:00:34 — Channel Update
Content Creator – Perun
