Washington has approved the sale of 600 Stinger portable anti-aircraft missile systems and related equipment to Morocco worth $825 million (about 730 million euros), BTA reports.
“Morocco intends to use this defense equipment to modernize its armed forces and expand its short-range defense capabilities“, said a statement from the US Agency for Defense and Security Cooperation, which is part of the US Department of Defense.
According to the agency, the sale will increase Morocco's ability to respond to current and future threats. In addition, it will improve “interoperability” between Moroccan armed forces and those of the United States and other allied countries.
During Donald Trump’s first term (2017-2021), relations between Morocco and the United States have deepened. Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s support for “Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara” during a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Washington.
In exchange for this support, officially expressed by Donald Trump at the end of 2020, Morocco agreed to normalize its relations with Israel.