India-Morocco Defence Cooperation: Rajnath Singh to Strengthen Defence Ties with Morocco in Upcoming Visit

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22 to 23. This visit will be at the invitation of Moroccan Defense Minister Abdellatif Lodhi. This will be the first visit by an Indian Defense Minister to Morocco, reflecting the growing strategic cooperation between India and Morocco.

According to the Ministry of Defense, a key highlight of Rajnath Singh's visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems' new manufacturing facility, which will manufacture the 8x8 Wheeled Armored Platform, in Berrechid. This plant is the first Indian defense manufacturing facility in Africa, marking a significant milestone and reflecting the growing global presence of India's defense industry under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

During this visit, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with Moroccan Defense Minister Abdellatif Lodhi, aimed at strengthening defense, strategic, and industrial cooperation. He will also meet Morocco's Minister of Industry and Trade Riad Mezouar to explore new opportunities for industrial partnership. Rajnath Singh will also interact with the Indian community in Rabat during his visit.

During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation between India and Morocco is also expected to be signed. This agreement will provide an institutional framework for bilateral defense relations, including mutual training, industrial partnerships, and other cooperation. According to the Ministry of Defense, Indian Navy ships have been regularly visiting the port of Casablanca in recent years, and this agreement will further strengthen this partnership. Significantly, India-Morocco relations have gained momentum since the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Moroccan King Mohammed VI in India in 2015. The upcoming visit is expected to inject new energy into bilateral relations, especially in the defense and strategic sectors.