Monday, December 11, 2023
  • About us
    • Write for us
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
  • RSS Feeds
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
DefenceTalk
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports
No Result
View All Result
DefenceTalk
No Result
View All Result

US, Morocco launch vast military exercise

by Agence France-Presse
June 23, 2022
in Army News
2 min read
0
US, Morocco launch vast military exercise

U.S. Army Spc. Cameron Farris with 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, trains with a member of the Moroccan special operations forces’ 2nd Airborne Brigade on the Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine gun during a live-fire portion of the field training exercise during exercise African Lion 2019, in Tifnit, Morocco, March 26, 2019. African Lion 2019 is an annual, combined multilateral exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s tactics, techniques, and procedures while demonstrating the strong bond between the nations’ militaries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joseph Atiyeh)

14
VIEWS

The United States and Morocco on Monday launched the vast annual “African Lion” military exercise, amid heightened tensions between the North African kingdom and neighboring Algeria.

The exercise, which began in the southern Moroccan region of Agadir and lasts the rest of the month, involves some 7,500 personnel from 10 nations such as Brazil, France and the United Kingdom.

It will include observers from NATO and for the first time, officials from Israel.

Some manoeuvres will take place in Tunisia, Senegal and Ghana, US Africa Command said in a statement.

The “exercise bolsters interoperability among partner nations and supports US military strategic readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and around the world”, it added.

The Moroccan military’s second-in-command, General Belkhir El Farouk, said Monday the country needed to tackle “security challenges”.

The kingdom will host land, sea and air phases, a paratrooper landing and a weapons of mass destruction response exercise.

Most will take place in Kenitra, near Rabat, but others will be near further south near the Algerian border, according to the Moroccan military.

There will also be a paratrooper landing and an artillery exercise in the desert, near the edge of the disputed Western Sahara and the Sahrawi refugee camps of Tindouf where the Algerian-backed Polisario independence movement is based.

The exercise comes amid heightened tensions over the Western Sahara since US president Donald Trump recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the territory in 2020 in return for Rabat re-establishing ties with Israel.

Algeria responded months later by breaking ties with Morocco, citing “hostile acts” and slamming its neighbour’s security cooperation with the “Zionist entity” (Israel).

This month Algiers also scrapped a long-standing treaty with Madrid after the Spanish government broke with decades of neutrality to back a Moroccan plan for autonomy in the desert territory.

Morocco considers it an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario has long demanded an independence referendum there.

The former Spanish colony boasts hundreds of kilometres of coastline with rich Atlantic fishing waters, plentiful phosphate resources and a key highway to West African markets.

Tags: Africamilitary exerciseMoroccoUS
Previous Post

China made third-largest air incursion this year, says Taiwan

Next Post

Estonia accuses Russia of ‘escalatory’ actions

Related Posts

Indonesia Orders Additional CAESAR Artillery Systems

France to send more mobile artillery to Ukraine

February 1, 2023

France will ship 12 more Caesar truck-mounted howitzers and fresh air defence equipment to Ukraine to bolster the fight against...

Leopard tanks to arrive in Ukraine around late March: Germany

Leopard tanks to arrive in Ukraine around late March: Germany

January 27, 2023

Leopard tanks pledged by Germany to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion will arrive in "late March, early April", Defence Minister...

Next Post
Russia deploys most advanced air defences at army drills

Estonia accuses Russia of 'escalatory' actions

Latest Defense News

First Shipment of New Gepard Ammunition Now on its Way to Ukraine

First Shipment of New Gepard Ammunition Now on its Way to Ukraine

September 6, 2023
China will ‘never commit to abandoning the use of force’ on Taiwan: Xi

China warns against ‘new Cold War’ as big powers meet in SE Asia

September 6, 2023
US sending 3,000 more troops to Poland, as Ukraine tension rises: senior official

Poland to spend over 4% of GDP on defence in 2024

September 6, 2023
North Korea pursues weapons despite Covid blockade: UN report

North Korea to pay ‘price’ if it gives Russia arms: US

September 6, 2023
USAF F-16 fleet undergoing largest modification work in history

Russia says F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine will be seen as ‘nuclear’ threat

July 13, 2023
North Korea says conducted new test of solid-fuel ICBM

North Korea says conducted new test of solid-fuel ICBM

July 13, 2023

Defense Forum Discussions

  • Australian Army Discussions and Updates
  • Indonesia: 'green water navy'
  • Hamas-Israeli War 2023
  • Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0
  • The Russian-Ukrainian War Thread
  • Calling any USAF members (or recently discharged) for general info
  • General Space News.
  • Indian Military Aviation; News, Updates & Discussions
  • Royal New Zealand Air Force
  • International Army News Thread
DefenceTalk

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com

Navigate Site

  • Defence Forum
  • Military Photos
  • RSS Feeds
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Defense News
    • Defense & Geopolitics News
    • War Conflicts News
    • Army News
    • Air Force News
    • Navy News
    • Missiles Systems News
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Defense Technology
    • Cybersecurity News
  • Military Photos
  • Defense Forum
  • Military Videos
  • Military Weapon Systems
    • Weapon Systems
    • Reports

© 2003-2020 DefenceTalk.com