In a significant development aimed at enhancing military capabilities across Africa, the United States has announced the establishment of a regional drone training center in Morocco. This initiative seeks to familiarize various African armies with the effective techniques employed by the Ukrainian military in its ongoing conflict with Russia, which has lasted over four years. The pilot phase of this training program is set to coincide with the African Lion 2026 exercise, scheduled to take place between April 20 and May 8, as part of a collaborative effort involving the U.S. military and several African nations.
During this training program, a total of sixteen participating countries will learn how to integrate drones into their military operations using four different types of drone systems. Following this initial training center in Morocco, Washington plans to expand its efforts by opening additional regional training centers across the continent, as announced by the commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa during a summit of African land forces in Rome on March 22.
A Strategic Decision Rooted in Strong Ties
While specific details regarding the types of drones to be utilized in the training have not been disclosed, it is anticipated that the training will involve lightweight drones weighing less than 25 kg, capable of flying at altitudes below 1,000 meters and costing only a few thousand euros. These drones have the potential to inflict significant damage on armored vehicles valued in the millions when used in kamikaze-style missions, in addition to serving intelligence-gathering purposes or delivering munitions.
The choice of Morocco as the location for the first drone training center in Africa is no coincidence. Over recent years, the relationship between the U.S. and Morocco has strengthened considerably. Morocco solidified its status as a key U.S. ally by signing the Abraham Accords in 2020, which aimed to normalize relations with Israel. Further enhancing its position, Morocco became the first African nation to join the "Peace Council" established by former President Donald Trump in January. Additionally, Morocco has emerged as the largest importer of American military equipment on the continent, with active contracts amounting to nearly 7.5 billion euros.
As reported by fr.news.yahoo.com.
