The rapid expansion of Israel’s defence industry has found fertile ground in an unlikely region—North Africa—where Morocco has emerged as a central player in Tel Aviv’s evolving security strategy.
Once politically distant, the two nations now engage in fast-growing military and technological cooperation that is reshaping the Maghreb’s strategic balance.
Accelerated bilateral engagement
Since the 2020 renewal of diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel, brokered under U.S. auspices, military collaboration has surged. While public attention has largely focused on symbolic gestures, behind the scenes, Rabat has been procuring cutting-edge Israeli defence technology, increasingly moving away from its traditional Western suppliers.
According to reports by Bladi, Morocco has secured an array of advanced systems in recent months, including next-generation air defence platforms, mobile artillery systems, and state-of-the-art observation and targeting devices.
These procurements reportedly include precision-guided munitions capable of striking hidden or fortified targets, with the total value surpassing 2 billion dirhams.
Strategic industrial integration
Beyond the flow of arms, Israel is also embedding itself within Morocco’s military-industrial complex. A production facility, currently under development in partnership with a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, will manufacture drones intended for regional deployment. This marks a significant step toward localising defence production and deepening interdependence between the two nations’ military sectors.
Arab world redefined as a defence market
Israel’s Ministry of Defence reported record-breaking arms exports in 2024, reaching $14.8 billion—a 37% increase over four years. Notably, Arab countries now represent 12% of Israeli defence exports, a fourfold increase since 2021. Much of this growth is attributed to the post-Abraham Accords environment, which has enabled Tel Aviv to penetrate markets once considered diplomatically off-limits.
Tensions and trade-offs
For Morocco, the military upgrades align with its strategic objective of modernising its armed forces while reinforcing its regional influence. Yet, the deepening partnership with Israel is not without controversy. Domestically, it draws criticism from segments of the political landscape. Regionally, it has raised concerns among neighbouring countries wary of shifting alliances.
Israel, meanwhile, is leveraging these defence partnerships to showcase its capability to engage beyond its traditional allies. The Maghreb has become a testbed for Israel’s broader ambition: forming hybrid security alliances underpinned by economic cooperation and geopolitical pragmatism.
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