Strengthening its position as a key U.S. ally on the African continent, Morocco has been selected by Washington to host the first American regional drone training center in Africa. The pilot phase of the project is set to take place during the African Lion 2026 military exercise, scheduled from April 20 to May 8 in the kingdom.
The initiative aims to train several African armed forces in the effective use of drones, drawing on techniques tested in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. According to U.S. officials, the program will initially involve 16 African countries, whose forces will be trained to integrate drones into military operations across four different types of systems.
Beyond this pilot phase, the United States plans to establish permanent regional training centers—starting in Morocco and later expanding to other African nations. The announcement was made on March 22 in Rome by Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of U.S. forces in Europe and Africa, during the African Land Forces Summit.
A Strategic and Calculated Choice
Although U.S. authorities have not specified the exact drone models to be used in the training, they are expected to resemble those deployed in Ukraine—lightweight drones weighing under 25 kilograms, flying below 1,000 meters, and costing only a few thousand euros. Despite their relatively low cost, such drones have proven highly effective on the battlefield. They can damage heavily armored vehicles worth millions when used in kamikaze-style attacks, while also serving reconnaissance missions or delivering munitions.
The choice of Morocco as the host country is far from accidental. In recent years, ties between Morocco and the United States have significantly deepened. In 2020, Rabat strengthened its strategic alignment with Washington by signing the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel.
More recently, Morocco became the first African nation to join the “Peace Council” initiative launched by Donald Trump. In addition, the kingdom has emerged as the largest purchaser of U.S. military equipment in Africa, with active contracts totaling nearly €7.5 billion.
With this new drone training center, Morocco further consolidates its role as a strategic military partner and a key security hub in Africa, while positioning itself at the forefront of modern defense capabilities on the continent.
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