US Army Chief of Staff visits Morocco

Last updated Mar 5, 2023

The Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of the Department of National Defense, Abdeltif Loudyi, received on Sunday at the headquarters of this Department, Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom at the head of an important delegation.

زيارة الجنرال مارك أ. ميلي هي مثال آخر على الشراكة العسكرية القوية بين المغرب والولايات المتحدة، و دليل على التزامنا بتعزيز السلام والازدهار والأمن في المنطقة وفي جميع أنحاء العالم. 3/3 https://t.co/c1Odo9cmWf

— U.S. Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) March 5, 2023

During these talks, the officials welcomed the exceptional level of friendship and cooperation relations established for a long time and strengthened by a strategic military partnership governed by an important legal arsenal, including in particular the roadmap of cooperation in the field of Defence 2020-2030, signed in October 2020, on the occasion of the visit of the American Secretary of Defence to Morocco.

… including Abdellatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of the National Defense Administration; and Lieutenant General Belkhir El Farouk, Inspector General of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Commander of Southern Zone. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/6JHUJAP9ri

— Ambassador Puneet Talwar (@USAmbMorocco) March 5, 2023

After reviewing the reality of bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and the possibilities to further strengthen it, the two officials welcomed the positive outcome of the Defence Consultative Committee and stressed the importance of the annual joint exercise (African Lion), which is a key lever for the success of the joint operability of the Armed Forces.

The communication underlined that the same day, Lieutenant General, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the South Zone Belkhir El Farouk, received at the General Command of the Royal Armed Forces in Rabat, Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States of America.

The statement stressed that during these talks, which took place in the presence of the heads of offices of the General Command of the Royal Armed Forces, senior American military officials and the U.S. ambassador accredited to Rabat, the two military officials expressed their satisfaction with the positive results of the Defence Consultative Committee.

In this context, the two military officials reaffirmed their willingness to further strengthen the cooperation and strategic partnership between the Armed Forces of both countries. They also noted the importance of the joint exercise “African lion”, which remains the best embodiment of the joint operability of the Armed Forces of both countries.