Morocco is set to increase its military spending to $5.5 billion in 2024 to enhance its defense readiness.
The total military expenditure marks a 2.6% rise compared to 2023, according to a recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). This increase is the first after two years of decline and reflects a new trend of boosting defense readiness amid escalating security challenges both regionally and internationally.
The report indicates that this rise in military budget is primarily attributed to increased spending on personnel resources, with no significant new arms deals recorded during the same period. This aligns with a comprehensive Moroccan vision aimed at modernizing the Royal Armed Forces by introducing advanced technologies and developing local defense industries.
In strengthening its defense capabilities, Morocco is moving toward solidifying military partnerships with several major powers, notably the United States and Israel, marking a clear shift in its military strategy.
The report noted that Morocco and Algeria together accounted for approximately 90% of total military spending in North Africa. Algeria topped the regional list with a defense budget of $21.8 billion, reflecting a 12% increase from the previous year, driven by rising energy revenues.
Although Morocco remains outside the list of the forty countries with the highest arms expenditures globally, its growing commitment to developing its defense capabilities highlights a shift in its security priorities, particularly amidst rising tensions in the Sahel region, increasing cross-border challenges, and an escalating arms race in the southern Mediterranean.
This spending occurs within a global context characterized by an unprecedented rise in defense budgets, with total global military expenditure in 2024 reaching about $2.718 trillion, marking a yearly increase of 9.4%, reflective of escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions across various regions worldwide.
