India-Morocco defence cooperation
Why in news?
India and Morocco recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence cooperation establishing a robust institutional framework to enhance their growing partnership, focusing on collaboration in the defence industry, joint military exercises, training, and capacity building.
Key Highlights
- The MoU covers joint military exercises, training programs, defence industry collaboration, counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, military medicine, peacekeeping, and expert exchanges.
- India established a Defence Wing at its Embassy in Rabat to facilitate ongoing cooperation and coordination.
- Tata Advanced Systems inaugurated India’s first overseas defence manufacturing facility in Morocco near Casablanca, producing armoured combat vehicles (WhAP) for the Moroccan military and potentially for export in Africa.
- This defence manufacturing unit promotes a hybrid local-global supply chain model, supporting both India’s export ambitions and Morocco’s defence modernization plans.
