At the Royal Navy Diving School in Sidi Kankouch, near Tangier, dignitaries from the Moroccan and American armed forces unveiled a rappelling training tower estimated at a cost of US $ 710,000 with a height of more than 15 meters, launching a key training equipment for the Royal Navy’s Special Forces.

This US-funded project began in the fall of 2019, but construction work was delayed due to the covid-19 epidemic.

“This project is yet another example of the close relationship between the American and Moroccan armed forces,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Teremuura Shamel, Head of the Security Cooperation Office at the United States Embassy in Morocco, noting that “we are constantly working together to train and prepare for all the risks that could threaten regional stability”.

Morocco is a significant security partner for the United States in a number of sectors. It takes part in about 100 military engagements with the US each year, including the African Lion exercise.

Morocco is also an important partner in American worldwide military instruction and training programs, as well as military sales activities around the world.

The event today coincides with the bicentennial of the American Legation in Tangier, the oldest American diplomatic facility in the world and a symbol of the two countries’ more than two centuries of friendship, according to the press release.

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Within the framework of the presence of the US army in Morocco to host the African Lion 2021 military maneuvers, Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, Deputy Commanding General for Africa and U.S. Army, stressed yesterday, Thursday, that the military cooperation between Morocco and the U.S. is “limitless” and holds enormous opportunities for the future.

In a statement during a telephone press conference on the Morocco-US military maneuvers “African Lion 2021”, which have been underway since June 7^th, the high-ranking US official highlighted the role played by Morocco as an “indispensable” ally in North Africa thanks to its “effective contribution” in maintaining peace and stability in the Maghreb region.

General Rohling also stressed that the United States and Morocco have had a strong and solid partnership for 200 years, which will be further strengthened, recalling that the Kingdom was the first country to recognize the United States of America in 1777.

In the same context, the military official highlighted that Morocco has always shown “great hospitality and generosity” by hosting, every year, these joint military exercises, “which are considered one of the most important and complex exercises in the world, with the participation of 8,000 soldiers from eight countries, in addition to 15 observers who are potentially participating in the next “African Lion 2022” exercise.

Rohling also revealed that “during the past two weeks, we have carried out many joint activities across Moroccan and Tunisian territories, with the use of important land, air and sea equipment, with the aim of enhancing interoperability between participants in the field of planning and implementing joint operations.”

“Military operations include the humanitarian component, disaster relief and potential conflict resolution, among others”, said General Rohling, adding that the African Lion 2021 “seeks to integrate all of these scenarios into simulations.”

This military exercise aims primarily to enhance the maneuvering capabilities of the participating units, master tactics, techniques and procedures, train air forces to conduct combat operations, support and refuel in the air, and enhance cooperation in the field of maritime security. It also includes conducting trainings on countering violent terrorist organizations.

It is worth noting that the 17^th edition of this joint Morocco-US military exercise will continue until June 18^th in the regions of Agadir, Tifnit, Tan-Tan, Mahbes, Tafraout, Benguerir and Kenitra, with the participation of thousands of multinational armies and a very large number of land, air and sea equipment.

In addition to the United States and Morocco, this exercise is marked by the participation of Britain, Brazil, Canada, Tunisia, Senegal, the Netherlands and Italy, as well as NATO and military observers from thirty countries representing Africa, Europe and America.

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Under the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the joint Morocco-US exercise “African Lion 2021” was launched last Monday in Agadir.

This exercise will continue until June 18, 2021 in the regions of Agadir, Tifnit, Tan Tan, Mahbes, Tafraout, Benguerir and Kenitra, involving thousands of multinational militaries and a very large number of land, air and sea equipment.

Speaking on this occasion, Corps General Belkhir El Farouk, Commander of the South Zone, indicated that “this exercise has undoubtedly reached a degree of maturity which attests to the solidity of cooperation between our respective armies”.

“In this context, it is appropriate to underline that the evolution of global geopolitics brings with it a set of threats and challenges that test military action, which is increasingly intended to be multinational in order to better understand the contingencies and constraints of commitments against hybrid threats, calling on protean modes of action”, he insisted.

General El Farouk adds that “in order to respond to the new imperatives of joint military engagements, it is inexorable that the concept of interoperability is well developed between the armies, likely to intervene in multinational forces”.

For his part, Major General Andrew M. Rohling, Deputy Commanding General for Africa and U.S. Army Southern European Task Force-Africa Commander, noted that the “African Lion” is “the largest US military exercise conducted on the African continent”.

“We have developed an exercise that will provide excellent training for all participants while protecting everyone’s health and safety,” said Rohling, noting that African Lion offers realistic, dynamic and collaborative preparation training.

“Together, we will improve interoperability and multinational cooperation, while creating strong links between the participating armed forces”, he said.

In addition to the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco, the 17th edition of this exercise sees the participation of Great Britain, Brazil, Canada, Tunisia, Senegal, the Netherlands, Italy as well as than the Atlantic Alliance, in addition to military observers from around thirty countries representing Africa, Europe and America.

As part of parallel humanitarian activities, a field medico-surgical hospital will be deployed at Amlen (Tafraout) where medical and surgical services will be provided for the benefit of the local population, by a medical team made up of doctors and nurses from the FAR and the US Army.

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Under the high directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, the joint Moroccan-American exercises “African Lion 2021” will be held from June 7 to 18, 2021 in the regions of Agadir, Tifnit, Tan Tan, Mahbes, Tafraout, Benguerir and Kenitra.

A communiqué by the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces stated that in addition to the United States and Morocco, the 17^th edition of this exercise will witness the participation of Britain, Brazil, Canada, Tunisia, Senegal, the Netherlands and Italy, as well as NATO and military observers from about thirty countries representing Africa, Europe and America.

The source added that this exercise, which is considered among the most important joint exercises in the world, has multiple objectives, including: strengthening the maneuvering capabilities of the participating units; enhancing interoperability among participants in the planning and implementation of joint operations within the framework of the Alliance; mastering military tactics; developing cyber defense skills; training the air component to conduct combat operations, support and air refueling; strengthening cooperation in maritime security and conducting naval exercises in naval tactics and conventional warfare; and finally, participating in humanitarian activities.

In this regard, a field medical-surgical hospital will be deployed in Amlen (Tafraout), where medical and surgical services will be provided for the benefit of the local population in the area, by medical teams consisting of doctors and nurses from the Royal Armed Forces and the US Army.

“African Lion 2021” is one of the major exercises organized and managed by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in partnership with the Royal Armed Forces, with the aim of enhancing the level of cooperation and training, increasing interoperability as well as enhancing the exchange of experiences and knowledge between various military components in order to achieve full operational capacity.

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Spanish officials continue to spread misinformation regarding the crisis between Morocco and Spain following the reception of Polisario leader. In consequence, Spanish authorities stated that Spain has decided not to participate in the African Lion 2021 maneuvers which will take place from June 7 to 18 in Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal.

The version leaked to Spanish newspaper “El Pais” tries to explain that Spain wants, by boycotting these strategic maneuvers, to prevent its participation from being considered as “Spain’s blessing” of “the annexation of Sahara by Morocco”, knowing that these maneuvers, which Spain has never missed since their beginning, will take place this year, in the Moroccan part, in the regions of Dakhla and Mahbes, in the heart of the Sahara.

According to defence members, it was indeed Morocco which opposed Spain’s participation in the African Lion exercise.

The reason is that, for Morocco, there is no need to give the impression that relations will resume normally between the two countries before the case of Brahim Ghali is resolved.

It should be recalled that Moroccan officials had already alluded to a possible “freeze” in security cooperation with Spain; this could have unfortunate repercussions not only on the northern neighbor, but on all of Europe.

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