Morocco's military expenditure increases as regional tensions rise

Morocco's military spending has seen a notable increase of 2.6% in 2024, amounting to $5.5 billion. This growth is largely attributed to an enhanced personnel budget for the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and aligns with a broader global trend, where military expenditures have surged by 9.4% compared to the previous year.

According to a report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending has reached nearly $2.7 trillion, marking its highest increase since the Cold War era. This surge is primarily driven by ongoing conflicts worldwide.

For the tenth consecutive year, military spending has risen globally. This encompasses all public expenditures related to armed forces and military activities, with arms procurement being just one aspect. The report highlights significant increases in defense budgets across Europe and the Middle East as well.

In North Africa, military spending hit $30.2 billion in 2024, reflecting an 8.8% rise from 2023 and a striking 43% increase since 2015. Notably, Algeria and Morocco together account for 90% of this subregional total.

Morocco's 2.6% increase contrasts sharply with its eastern neighbor, Algeria, which has adopted a more aggressive stance by raising its military budget by 12% this year to reach $21.8 billion. While Morocco's increase signifies a strategic pivot towards strengthening its armed forces with a focus on personnel, Algeria's substantial rise raises concerns regarding the sustainability of its defense priorities, which seem to be more politically motivated than rooted in a comprehensive security strategy.

Algeria's military budget is the largest in Africa, consuming about 21% of the country's public spending. This disproportionate allocation places the defense sector ahead of other critical areas such as social services and infrastructure. In contrast, Morocco's approach remains balanced and pragmatic, investing not only in military equipment but also in the training and preparation of its personnel.

The broader African context reveals a steady increase in military expenditure across the continent. Total military spending in Africa reached $52.1 billion in 2024, marking a 3% rise from the previous year and an 11% increase since 2015. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have experienced significant spikes in their defense budgets following recent political shifts.

These nations have notably curtailed military cooperation with France, reallocating resources to enhance their armed forces. For instance, Mali's military spending rose by 38% from 2020 to 2024, while Burkina Faso's surged by 108% during the same period. Niger's defense budget also grew by 56%.

This rising trend in military spending across Africa reflects heightened security concerns and the evolving priorities of national defense strategies, a phenomenon that shows no signs of abating in the foreseeable future.