Azerbaijan, Morocco strengthen strategic defence partnership with landmark pact Azerbaijan’s Expertise Shared

On January 10, 2025, President Ilham Aliyev approved a military cooperation agreement between Azerbaijan and Morocco, which was signed on October 30, 2024, in Rabat, laying the foundation for a strengthened bilateral partnership in the field of defence.

Moroccan newspaper L'Opinion has examined the advantages of this carefully considered agreement between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports.

Analysis

The defence cooperation agreement between Morocco and Azerbaijan is currently at the ratification stage. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev approved the agreement, which was concluded at the end of October 2024 during the International Aviation Exhibition (Marrakech Air Show 2024). The document was signed by the Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government for National Defence Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, Abdellatif Loudiyi, and his Azerbaijani counterpart, General Zakir Hasanov. The agreement covers areas such as training, technical assistance, joint exercises, experience exchange, cybersecurity, and the defence industry.

Why this agreement is unique?

Unlike previous agreements between the two countries, this document holds special significance. While the current stage can be described as initial, as military partnerships require time to mature, the process itself is important: the countries need to develop a deeper understanding of each other. For Morocco, it represents an opportunity to establish cooperation with a country that recently triumphed in a modern war – the 44-day Karabakh war, which was the first high-intensity conflict to extensively use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These advanced technologies are a key element of 21st-century warfare, which is becoming increasingly robotic.

Moroccan military interests

The Azerbaijani army demonstrated high efficiency, defeating Armenian forces in a short time with a relentless offensive strategy. This war drew the attention of senior officers from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR), who are also keen to actively integrate drones into their arsenals. During a meeting in Baku in February 2024 with President Aliyev’s advisor Hikmat Hajiyev, it was revealed that even before the signing of the agreement, Azerbaijan had been ready to engage in military cooperation with Morocco.

Training plays a central role, as the Azerbaijani army's combat experience is of significant interest to Moroccan military academies. The FAR has already been actively using drones for several years to ensure the security of the buffer zone in the Sahara and neutralize attacks from the Polisario Front. Currently, the Royal Armed Forces face the task of further developing offensive capabilities for potential high-intensity warfare, which would require the mass deployment of drones in complex tactical operations.

Notably, the armed forces of both countries use similar drone models, such as the Bayraktar TB-2 and Israeli drones. This similarity simplifies the exchange of experience and the conduct of joint exercises aimed at improving cooperation in operations.

Defence industry cooperation

In addition to training, Morocco is also keenly interested in the defence industry. Azerbaijan's defence industry is at a relatively advanced level, producing various types of ammunition, guided bombs, artillery, rifles, and missile systems.

The country also manufactures "Iti Govan" combat and reconnaissance drones. Morocco, on the other hand, is taking its first steps in developing its own defence industry, with particular focus on drone production. The exchange of experience in this area will benefit both sides.

Shared interests and political proximity

The military partnership has become a logical continuation of the long-standing political rapprochement between Rabat and Baku. The two countries share mutual interests and a common geopolitical vision.

Azerbaijan's support for Morocco's territorial integrity has strengthened their bilateral relations, making Baku a key ally for Rabat in Asia. Over the past two years, interaction between the two countries has reached an unprecedented level. High-level delegations have frequently visited each other, and the latest negotiations, which took place in Rabat in November 2023, resulted in the signing of five agreements on cooperation in various fields, including energy, healthcare, tourism, and environmental protection.

In conclusion, although the partnership between Morocco and Azerbaijan is in its early stages, it demonstrates significant potential. Concrete steps, such as the abolition of visa requirements, have already been taken, fostering deeper cooperation between the two nations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev