The agreement was reached in Tel Aviv during the latest session of the Israel–Morocco Joint Military Committee, which has become the main platform for coordinating bilateral security relations.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the deal followed several days of closed-door meetings, strategic briefings and professional exchanges between senior military officials from both sides.
Israeli military planners described Morocco as a key partner for regional stability, highlighting how Rabat has moved beyond symbolic diplomacy into structured defence collaboration with Israel.
“The meeting constitutes another milestone in deepening security cooperation between Israel and Morocco, a key partner for regional stability and security, and marks five years since the renewal of relations within the framework of the Abraham Accords,” the IDF said in a statement.
Morocco ditches Western military hardware for Israel
In recent years, Morocco has sharply reoriented its arms procurement strategy, increasingly favouring Israeli suppliers over traditional European and American partners.
For Morocco, the agreement fits into a broader push to modernise its armed forces and diversify defence partners.
Since normalising relations with Israel in December 2020, Rabat has rapidly expanded military cooperation, particularly in air defence, drones, intelligence systems and surveillance technology, as it seeks to strengthen its posture amid tensions in Western Sahara and rising instability across the Sahel.
Rabat has acquired Israel’s Barak MX air defence system, purchased reconnaissance satellites, and ordered ATMOS 2000 self-propelled artillery systems from Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems in a deal estimated at around €200 million.
The truck-mounted 155mm howitzers, equipped with automated loading and digital fire-control systems, are capable of striking targets more than 40 kilometres away.
Morocco becomes Israel’s most important African security ally
The 2026 work plan prioritises long-term force development, strategic planning and defence coordination, rather than short-term tactical cooperation.
Officials familiar with the talks said it will guide consultations, joint activity and military dialogue throughout the year, allowing both sides to align their defence planning as regional security risks evolve.
Israel sees Morocco as a strategic gateway into North and West Africa, where militant groups, trafficking networks and proxy conflicts increasingly intersect with Middle Eastern geopolitics. Institutionalising military ties with Rabat allows Israel to extend its security footprint well beyond the eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf.
Despite ongoing domestic debate in Morocco over ties with Israel, the 2026 work plan signals a long-term, institutionalised security partnership that is set to play a growing role in African and Middle Eastern security dynamics.
