DR ‹ › Morocco has recorded a 12% increase in its arms imports between the periods 2016–2020 and 2021–2025, surpassing Algeria, according to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The kingdom now ranks 28th globally among the top 40 arms importers, while its North African neighbor Algeria ranks 33rd, the same source notes. «Morocco has pending imports from several states, including Spain, with patrol vessels ordered from Navantia, and the United States, including 600 Stinger missiles and hundreds of Javelin missiles», the report highlights. «Algeria's arms imports decreased by 78 per cent, having reached a peak in 2016–20. While the latest SIPRI data indicates that Morocco's arms imports surpassed those of Algeria in 2021–25, Algeria is often secretive about its arms imports, and there were several unverified reports about arms deals with Russia in 2021–25, suggesting that SIPRI's estimates may be on the low side». Since the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Algeria has also lost its main arms supplier, Russia. Russian military production is now largely focused on the war effort led by President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, with Moscow even turning to Iran and North Korea for weapons supplies. According to the report, Algeria allocated a defense budget of $21.6 billion in 2024, a significant increase compared to the $18 billion approved by the Algerian Parliament and published in January 2023. By 2026, this budget had reached $25 billion. Despite differences in volume, Morocco and Algeria «are by far the largest recipients of major arms in Africa», the SIPRI report concludes, noting that ongoing tensions between the two countries remain a key factor behind their arms acquisitions.
