The Royal Armed Forces (FAR) of Morocco and the French army have launched the 2025 edition of the Chergui exercise, taking place in the eastern region of the kingdom close to the Algerian border. France has dispatched «elements of the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment, a platoon from the 1st Hunter Regiment, a section from the 1st Tirailleurs Regiment, and a command module from the 4th Airmobile Brigade, working alongside units of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR)», as reported by the French Ministry of Defense. French helicopters arrived approximately ten days ago at Tangier airport before proceeding to the Tafilalet region, the chosen site for this year's Chergui exercise. On the Moroccan side, the FAR have deployed M1A2 Abrams tanks, alongside Gazelle, Tiger, and NH90 helicopters. These forces are operating in what has been described as a «particularly realistic and demanding environment, characterized by the Atlas terrain, sand, and temperature variations», according to the same source. Algeria has yet to issue a response to the commencement of this Franco-Moroccan exercise near its borders. Last March, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the French ambassador in Algiers, asserting that «Algeria views this exercise as a provocation. Such actions could exacerbate the ongoing crisis in Algerian-French relations and heighten tensions between the two nations». The 2025 Chergui exercise is «structured around a scenario simulating an attack on Morocco's territorial integrity», according to the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
