Asharq AL-awsat
Casablanca – Lahcen Mokena
Morocco’s flag with a woman’s shadow seen on it. AFP file photo
The Moroccan military is setting the stage for the 2020 annual military exercises between the United States, Morocco and Tunisia dubbed “African Lion.”
Morocco’s army announced on Facebook on Thursday that the leadership of the southern military region in Agadir organized last week a meeting to prepare for the drills that will bring together the three countries in addition to five other states from Europe and Africa.
The “African Lion” was first launched 16 years ago as part of the strategic military cooperation between Morocco and the US. Tunisia joined it three years ago.
The 2019 drills witnessed the participation of more than 2,000 soldiers from eight countries. They were seen as the largest in terms of the number of participants.
But the 2020 exercises that will also be held in southern Morocco are expected to see larger numbers of military units and observers, according to the statement posted on Facebook.
The joint and combined exercises involve various types of training including a Combined Joint Task Force Command Post Exercise linked with Intelligence Capacity Building Workshop and Basic Intelligence Course, Aviation Training Exercise, Field Training Exercises, Humanitarian Civic Assistance and Senior Leader Dialogue focused on counter-violent extremist organizations (VEOs), maritime/land/air border security challenges, transnational threats and regional cooperation, and cyber security and defense.
