The 2025 Finance Bill, presented by Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance, allocates over 133 billion dirhams for the acquisition and repair of Moroccan military equipment and support for defense industry development. This represents a notable increase from over 119 billion dirhams in 2023 and 124 billion dirhams in 2024.
Military and strategic experts highlight that Morocco's increased military spending is driven by the need to ensure national security, modernize its defense capabilities, and align with global developments. The regional challenges, particularly the arms race imposed by Algeria, which plans to increase its defense budget to over $25 billion, necessitate enhanced defense resources for Morocco to strengthen deterrence capabilities.
Modernizing the Army and Localizing Industry
Military expert Abdel Rahman Mkaoui emphasized that the increased defense budget aims to modernize Morocco’s military arsenal with advanced arms and replace outdated equipment affected by terrain and weather, especially in the southern regions. The unstable regional neighborhood and rapid threats necessitate that Morocco’s army be well-equipped with the latest weaponry. Additionally, the local defense industry initiative calls for substantial investment, with Morocco seeking to achieve self-sufficiency in ammunition and light arms.
Enhancing Deterrence and Protecting Interests
Hicham Mouatad, a strategic affairs researcher, pointed out that a primary objective of increasing the defense budget is to strengthen military deterrence and modernize the Royal Armed Forces’ combat capabilities in light of a volatile security environment. The increase aims to reduce reliance on military imports by developing local defense industries. The context indicates that Morocco faces increasing threats from the eastern borders and the overall unstable influence of regional actors.
In summary, the bolstered defense budget serves not only regional security needs but also strengthens Morocco's strategic partnerships and supports internal stability and morale within the armed forces.
