Security specialist Carlos Echeverria has warned that Spain must reinforce its military deterrence as Morocco rapidly expands its arsenal through an alliance with Israel.
Speaking on the radio program La Linterna on Cadena COPE, Echeverria said deterrence is not militarism but a vital tool to prevent war along Europe's southern border. Cadena COPE is one of Spain's main national radio networks.
Echeverria, who serves as director of the Observatory of Ceuta and Melilla, stressed that Morocco's qualitative leap in military capability directly affects Spanish defense interests. Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish autonomous cities located on the coast of North Africa, sharing land borders with Morocco.
He stated that the reinforcement of Moroccan arsenals must concern Spain directly, especially if the buildup challenges national deterrence capabilities across Spanish North African territories. Maintaining a strong deterrent advantage represents the only guarantee of peace in the region, according to Echeverria.
Morocco Arms Buildup and Defense Partnerships
The North African region is experiencing intense geopolitical tension following social mobilizations against the government of King Mohamed VI. These domestic protests exposed internal political instability in Morocco.
Rather than stepping back, authorities in Rabat responded to domestic unrest by accelerating overseas military acquisitions at a rapid pace. This expansion aims at regional dominance and alters the balance of power across the Maghreb, risking the loss of strategic advantage in the zone.
A central element of this military escalation is the strategic alignment between Morocco and Israel. The pact provides Moroccan armed forces with cutting edge technology through multimillion dollar defense contracts signed between Rabat and Israeli defense firms.
International partners have also highlighted long standing military ties with Rabat. United States General Daniel L. Shipley said Morocco's leadership in AMFS reflects a relationship built over nearly 250 years and sustained by trust and professional exchange.
Naval Capabilities and Autonomous Defense Testing
Despite Morocco's rapid rearmament, Spanish defense analysts point to remaining gaps in Rabat's military forces. Retired Spanish Navy Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat warned that Morocco lacks submarines and could not survive a naval conflict in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow shipping channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, separating southern Spain from North Africa.
Meanwhile, technological advancements continue to shape military testing in the region. Defense developers successfully tested an autonomous ground robot designed to counter aerial drones.
Regional Rivalry With Algeria and Domestic Instability
Morocco's military expansion takes place alongside an intense rivalry with neighboring Algeria. Both nations are locked in a fierce struggle for North African hegemony, accumulating weapons in an escalation intended for mutual neutralization.
This concentration of armaments just kilometers from European territory produces inevitable collateral damage for Spain. Security experts emphasize that Spain must maintain a firm posture to prevent territorial pressure.
At the same time, internal political conditions inside Morocco remain fragile. While Rabat signs defense agreements abroad, young citizens on Moroccan streets express growing discontent with the management of King Mohamed VI.
Ignacio Gutierrez de Teran, professor of Arab and Islamic Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid, analyzed the social fracture threatening to destabilize Morocco from within. The Autonomous University of Madrid is a public research university located in Spain.
Historical precedent shows that governments facing domestic protest often seek escape valves in foreign policy. A heavily armed and socially unstable Morocco creates a high risk environment that forces Spain to recalibrate its national defense strategy, making passivity no longer viable.
