DR ‹ › The United States plans to establish a training center in Morocco for African drone operators. The initiative was announced by General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa, according to an American media outlet. The first phase of the project is expected to launch during the 2026 edition of the Africa Lion exercise. A dedicated drone training module will be offered to around fifteen participants, Donahue said at the African Land Forces Summit held last week in Rome. «It is about a sustainable, enduring capability that, once we prove its effectiveness, we can take to other parts of Africa», he stated. He added that the center will provide African stakeholders with a platform to identify key security challenges and mobilize resources and innovation to address them. «It will offer a different approach to train each other, to learn from each other and to share information to solve a problem. That is what we're going to start in Morocco», he said. Previously, General Dagvin Anderson, current head of AFRICOM, had indicated during his Senate confirmation hearing last August that Morocco is set to play a key role in the evolving configuration of U.S. command in Africa. U.S. media have also reported on the possibility of creating a standalone military command dedicated to Africa, following the Senate's approval of a new AFRICOM leader. In this context, Morocco has been mentioned as a potential location for a future headquarters. This initiative reflects deepening strategic cooperation between Rabat and Washington. Since June 2004, Morocco has held the status of a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
