Abdeltif Loudyi, minister delegate to the head of government in charge of national defense administration, received, Tuesday in Rabat, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, Robert Karem, who leads a large delegation on a two-day visit to Morocco. The two officials voiced their wish to further develop these long-standing relationships in the same spirit of friendship, mutual understanding and mutual confidence. During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on the regional security situation, particularly in the Mediterranean region and the Sahel-Saharan strip. In this regard, Loudyi stressed the constant commitment and the multidimensional strategy led by the Kingdom in the fight against terrorism as well as in the humanistic management of the migration crisis, the statement added. The minister also highlighted Morocco's role in preserving regional stability and the efforts made by the Kingdom within the framework of South-South cooperation to boost the economic development of several African countries and to enhance capacity building of many African armies, particularly through training and exchange of expertise. In the area of defense, the two officials reviewed the different aspects of bilateral cooperation. This cooperation concerns in particular the training of executives, the exchange of expertise and the organization of large joint exercises. It is also marked by the regular convening of the Moroccan-American Defense Consultative Committee (DDC) and frequent exchanges of visits by senior officials. While welcoming the quality and dynamism of the bilateral cooperation in the area of defense, the two officials reiterated their common desire to strengthen and deepen this cooperation, particularly as regards the modernization of the defense systems, capacity building and interoperability.
