The Israeli army announced on Monday the signing of a joint military action plan with Morocco for 2026, following the third meeting of the Morocco–Israel Joint Military Committee held in Tel Aviv. The move aims to accelerate military and security cooperation between the two countries since the resumption of relations under the Abraham Accords.
According to the Israeli army, as reported by Hebrew-language media, the meeting coincided with the fifth anniversary of the normalization of relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv. Discussions were led by the Israeli Planning Directorate and its international division, known as “Tevel,” and included professional working sessions, as well as field visits to Israeli army units, defense industries, and relevant military departments.
The same sources said the visit focused on a special session dedicated to enhancing military capabilities from a strategic perspective and identifying common objectives for cooperation between the two armed forces. The Israeli army described the meeting as a “new and important phase” in deepening security cooperation with Morocco, which it referred to as a “key partner in regional stability.”
The signing of the military action plan comes after more than two years of suspended bilateral cooperation, following Israel’s military offensive on the Gaza Strip. Military ties between the two countries resumed activity after the end of the war in the Palestinian enclave.
This development also follows the recent launch of a new phase of joint defense manufacturing on Moroccan soil. Hebrew media recently revealed that Israeli company BlueBird had opened a new factory in Morocco dedicated to producing “Spy-X” loitering munitions, marking a shift from agreements and procurement to local manufacturing.
According to the same sources, the factory was established in the city of Ben Slimane and is the first facility of its kind in North Africa specialized in producing this advanced category of unmanned aerial systems. The project is seen as a qualitative turning point in Morocco’s efforts to build a sovereign defense industry based on technology transfer and the training of national human resources.
The sources added that the project goes beyond manufacturing to include the transfer of technical know-how, training Moroccan engineers and technicians, developing operational and maintenance capabilities for unmanned aerial systems, and integrating these drones into the Kingdom’s defense architecture.
Security and defense cooperation between Morocco and Israel took a decisive turn following the visit of former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to Morocco in November 2021, which culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding—the first of its kind between Israel and an Arab country. The agreement established an institutional framework for cooperation covering intelligence sharing, operational coordination, training, and research and development, paving the way for a multi-level defense partnership between Rabat and Tel Aviv.
Since that visit, the pace of agreements and practical arrangements has accelerated, particularly in the fields of air defense, unmanned aerial vehicles, intelligence systems, and advanced military technologies. This has been reflected in defense procurement deals, training programs, and expanded channels of cooperation between the two military institutions through regular meetings and joint committees focused on strategic planning and setting shared priorities.
In a later phase, defense cooperation moved from coordination and procurement to manufacturing and technology transfer, as demonstrated by joint military-industrial projects inside Morocco—an approach consistent with the Kingdom’s strategy to develop a local defense industry and strengthen its strategic autonomy.
