SOURCE: AFI
Significant step forward in Morocco-India relations was marked by a high-profile meeting in New Delhi between His Majesty the King and the Kingdom of Morocco’s Ambassador to India, Mohammed Al Malki, and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, India’s Secretary (Defence Production). The discussions, held at the Ministry of Defence, centered on deepening cooperation in military industries, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between the two nations. This meeting underscores Morocco’s increasing interest in India’s burgeoning defence sector and India’s commitment to expanding its global defence collaborations.
Ambassador Mohammed Al Malki, representing His Majesty King Mohammed VI, engaged with Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, a key figure in India’s defence production ecosystem, to explore avenues for enhanced military-industrial collaboration. The timing of the meeting—occurring just two days before March 30, 2025—highlights the urgency and priority both nations place on strengthening bilateral ties in this critical domain.
The agenda focused on expanding collaboration in military industries, a sector where India has made remarkable strides with its “Make in India” initiative. Morocco, under the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has similarly prioritized modernizing its armed forces and fostering international partnerships to bolster its defence capabilities. The meeting built on the momentum of prior engagements, including the Royal Moroccan Army’s reported interest in India’s Akash-NG air defence system, signaling a tangible interest in Indian-made military technology.
India’s defence industry, led by entities like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), has emerged as a global player, offering cost-effective, high-performance solutions. Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, as Secretary (Defence Production), oversees this ecosystem, which includes advanced platforms like the LCH Prachand helicopter and Arjun tanks. For Morocco, aligning with India presents an opportunity to diversify its defence acquisitions beyond traditional suppliers like China and Israel, while tapping into India’s expertise in affordable, indigenous systems.
This meeting is not an isolated event but part of a broader trajectory of Morocco-India defence relations. The landmark visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to India in 2015 for the India-Africa Forum Summit laid the foundation for deeper ties, followed by over 40 MoUs across various sectors. Defence cooperation has since gained prominence, with both nations eyeing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence, as noted in earlier talks between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in 2020.
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