The security architecture of the wider Mediterranean and North Africa is undergoing a profound transformation. At the heart of this realignment is the strategic convergence of the United States, European allies, and new regional partners, with Israel assuming an increasingly active and structural role in the area's geopolitical and industrial projection.
Recent high-level official visits to Rabat — led by Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram and sealed by the opening of a permanent office for the Moroccan-Israeli military attaché — represent not merely another step in diplomatic normalization, but the establishment of a genuine pillar of military, technological, and industrial cooperation.
A strategic axis between Rabat, Washington, and Tel Aviv
Cooperation between Israel and Morocco, which has intensified considerably since 2020, is now focused on long-term objectives:
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Joint industrial development: As highlighted by local media, the agreement is not limited to supplying advanced equipment, but seeks to develop national defense production capabilities, embedding Western and allied technological expertise on the southern shore of the Mediterranean.
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Strategic depth and deterrence: For Israel, consolidating ties with friendly countries means expanding its ability to positively influence regional balances and support its industrial and economic sector. For Morocco, it represents a qualitative leap in the modernization of the Forze Armate Reali (FAR).
This momentum is part of a broader framework shaped by the projection of USAFRICOM and, in particular, the major joint exercise African Lion. Considered the largest military exercise on the African continent — with Morocco serving as the main hub alongside other regional allies —, African Lion provides the operational readiness and multi-domain interoperability (land, air, maritime, and cyber) essential to the stability of the North African and sub-Saharan theater.
The "Southern Flank" and the responsibilities of Europe and Italy
For Italy and the entire European Union, North Africa and the wider Mediterranean constitute a vital space for national security.
Historical and strategic analyses, such as those reflected in the operational traditions and commitment of the elite units of our Armed Forces, remind us that stability is not defended solely at continental borders, but through an active presence and sustained military cooperation along the southern axes.
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