India’s Defence Minister, widely referred to as the Raksha Mantri, is scheduled to visit Morocco on September 22–23, 2025. This high-level visit comes at a significant time, as both India and Morocco are seeking to deepen bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence, maritime security, counterterrorism, and emerging technologies. It marks a historic development, as visits of Indian defence ministers to North African nations have been relatively rare, making this trip an important signal of India’s expanding outreach to Africa and the Arab world.

The visit is expected to focus on strengthening defence ties, enhancing military-to-military cooperation, exploring defence trade, and expanding strategic dialogue. Beyond defence, the discussions are likely to cover areas such as blue economy cooperation, UN peacekeeping operations, and joint training programs.

Why Morocco Matters to India

Geographic Significance

Morocco occupies a unique geostrategic position in North Africa, located at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It controls access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, making it an essential player in maritime trade and global shipping.

For India, which depends heavily on secure sea lanes for its energy imports and trade routes, engaging Morocco is a step towards ensuring maritime stability and building new defence partnerships beyond the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Political and Diplomatic Importance

Morocco is a stable constitutional monarchy with strong ties to Europe, the United States, and the Arab world. Its balanced foreign policy and willingness to cooperate in multilateral forums make it a useful partner for India in global governance, especially at the United Nations, African Union, and Non-Aligned Movement.

Defence and Security Relevance

Morocco maintains modern and capable armed forces, with close defence partnerships with NATO and Western allies. It has been actively engaged in counterterrorism operations, peacekeeping, and anti-piracy patrols. For India, which shares similar security challenges, Morocco provides a potential partner for joint exercises, technology sharing, and defence manufacturing cooperation.

India–Morocco Relations: A Brief History

India and Morocco share long-standing diplomatic ties, established in 1957. Over the years, relations have steadily grown in trade, culture, and people-to-people connections. However, defence cooperation has remained relatively underdeveloped.

Key highlights of past cooperation include:

• Cultural and Political Ties: Morocco has consistently supported India in global forums, including its candidature for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
• Economic Cooperation: India is one of the largest importers of phosphates and fertilizers from Morocco, making it an essential partner in India’s agriculture security.
• Security Dialogue: Both nations have cooperated on issues of counterterrorism and intelligence sharing, especially in the context of global Islamist radicalization.
• Education and Training: India has welcomed Moroccan students under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program and extended scholarships in defence studies.

This upcoming visit could serve as the turning point where India and Morocco elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership level in defence and security.

Expected Agenda of Raksha Mantri’s Visit

The two-day official visit is expected to be packed with bilateral meetings, military discussions, and strategic dialogues.

1. Bilateral Defence Talks

The Raksha Mantri is scheduled to hold discussions with Morocco’s Minister Delegate in Charge of National Defence Administration. Topics on the table will include:

• Defence industrial cooperation.
• Joint military exercises.
• Training of Moroccan defence personnel in Indian institutions.
• Cybersecurity and emerging technology partnerships.

2. Maritime Security Cooperation

Given Morocco’s position along the Atlantic and India’s focus on securing maritime trade, both countries may sign agreements on:

• Anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
• Blue economy projects.
• Port infrastructure collaboration.
• Sharing of maritime domain awareness (MDA).

3. Defence Industry and Trade

India’s growing defence industry, especially under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiative, has created opportunities for exports. Morocco may explore:

• Purchase of Indian-made drones, radars, and coastal surveillance systems.
• Collaboration with Indian shipyards for patrol vessels.
• Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) partnerships.

4. Counterterrorism and Intelligence Sharing

Morocco has been successful in countering radical extremist networks. India, too, faces security challenges in dealing with cross-border terrorism. The visit is expected to enhance cooperation in:

• Intelligence sharing on extremist networks.
• Joint training in counterterrorism operations.
• Exchange of best practices on deradicalization.

5. Cultural and Academic Engagement

Beyond security, the visit may also involve:

• Expanding student exchange programs.
• Defence scholarship schemes for Moroccan officers in Indian academies like the National Defence College (NDC).
• Promoting cultural diplomacy to strengthen people-to-people ties.

Strategic Implications for India

Expanding Influence in Africa

India has been steadily increasing its outreach to Africa through forums like the India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS). Defence cooperation with Morocco will enhance India’s profile in North Africa, complementing its strong presence in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania) and West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana).

Countering Chinese Influence

China has been aggressively expanding its footprint in Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and arms sales. India’s engagement with Morocco provides a counterweight to Chinese influence and showcases New Delhi as an alternative partner offering affordable defence technologies, training, and cooperation without political strings attached.

Boost to Defence Exports

India has set an ambitious target of achieving $5 billion in defence exports by 2025. Morocco could emerge as a key market for Indian-made missiles, drones, artillery systems, and naval equipment.

Strengthening the India–Arab World Link

Morocco’s strong ties with the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) can help India build goodwill and address sensitivities in multilateral diplomacy.

How Morocco Benefits

For Morocco, the visit is equally significant. By engaging India:

• It diversifies its defence partnerships beyond the West.
• Gains access to cost-effective Indian military hardware and training.
• Strengthens its position as a bridge between Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
• Enhances its role in global counterterrorism networks.

Challenges and Limitations

While the visit holds promise, there are challenges:

• Limited historical defence cooperation means both sides are starting from scratch.
• Language barriers and different training doctrines may slow down joint programs.
• Regional dynamics, including Morocco’s relations with Algeria and its stance on the Western Sahara issue, may complicate India’s diplomatic balancing.

The Way Forward

To make the most of this visit, both sides need to adopt a long-term roadmap:

1. Establish a Joint Defence Cooperation Committee.
2. Launch annual military dialogues.
3. Initiate naval exercises in the Atlantic Ocean.
4. Facilitate industry-to-industry partnerships in shipbuilding and aerospace.
5. Encourage academic collaboration between Indian and Moroccan defence colleges.