Rabat: In execution of High Royal Instructions, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defense Administration Abdeltif Loudyi, received on Monday at the headquarters of the Administration, in the presence of Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the South Zone, a delegation from the U.S. Congress led by Trent Kelly, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, under the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, on a working visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, during this meeting, both parties commended excellent, long-standing ties between Morocco and the USA, as well as the remarkable level achieved in bilateral military cooperation. In this regard, they reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening this strategic partnership and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of both countries, according to a statement from the National Defense Administration.
In addition, the two sides examined the level of cooperation in the defense sector, marked in particular by regular meetings of the Morocco-U.S. Defense Consultative Committee, whose 14th session was held in Washington last April, the sustained exchange of visits between senior military officials, and the joint organization of the large-scale annual exercise “African Lion,” now a model of multinational military cooperation and a major driver of interoperability among armed forces of participating countries.
As part of the meeting, the Moroccan side commended the United States of America’s constant, frank, and constructive support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its entire national territory, as well as efforts made in this regard. It also highlighted various South-South cooperation and regional integration initiatives launched under the leadership and in accordance with the enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, making the Kingdom a key player working to promote stability, peace, and shared prosperity for the benefit of the African continent.
For its part, the delegation of U.S. congressmen praised the leadership of His Majesty the King, noting that Morocco is a key player in promoting stability, dialogue, and shared prosperity in the face of various challenges and issues related to regional and international security.
At the close of the meeting, both parties expressed their shared ambition and determination to further consolidate this exceptional strategic partnership in the future and to strengthen the exemplary relations of trust, friendship, and cooperation between the two countries, the statement concluded.