This Wednesday, May 14, Morocco commemorates the 69th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), an occasion traditionally marked by a message from King Mohammed VI addressed to FAR members. This year, the monarch highlighted the strategic importance of Morocco's military in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving global landscape. «The growing challenges posed by the current situation—along with the unprecedented disruptions it brings both regionally and internationally, and the resulting cross-border security and criminal threats—require our Royal Armed Forces to demonstrate wisdom, vigilance, and a deep understanding. This will enable them to continually adapt and remain prepared to respond with insight, firmness, and professionalism». King Mohammed VI To support this transformation, the Supreme Commander and Chief of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces stressed the need to enhance and modernize military training programs, both theoretical and practical, across the country's military academies and training centers. While expressing satisfaction with the state-of-the-art equipment available to Moroccan forces, King Mohammed VI reaffirmed that «the human element has always been at the core of Our priorities»—underscoring the importance of ensuring that military personnel are well-trained and work in conditions that meet the demands of their mission. «We will make Our soldiers the most effective tool to ensure the optimal use of our various defense systems and equipment», he noted. The King also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Morocco's military industry, describing it as a major national project under his «High solicitude». He emphasized that all the necessary conditions have been put in place to ensure its success, with the aim of securing defensive sovereignty through a forward-looking strategy. In July 2021, Morocco adopted a legal framework for developing a domestic defense industry with the passage of Law No. 10-20 on defense and security materials, weapons, and ammunition. This was followed in November 2024 by a decree adopted in the government council that added companies producing defense and security materials to the list of activities eligible for tax incentives. This new ecosystem has already begun attracting international interest—Indian company TATA and Turkish defense giant Baykar have both announced plans to establish production facilities in Morocco.
