For the first time, the French Navy has decided to deploy one of its nuclear submarines as part of the “Chebec” joint naval exercises, in partnership with Morocco, marking an unprecedented step in their military cooperation.
Sailing towards new horizons of cooperation, these large-scale maritime maneuvers promise to brilliantly illustrate the art of naval strategy from October 7 to 13, first in the heart of the port of Casablanca, then will extend off the coast of Mediterranean coasts of the Kingdom.
The French Navy emphasizes that this edition of the exercises is designed to further refine the interoperability of the forces present, particularly in terms of maritime security and protection, with the ultimate objective of validating the ability of the two nations to collaborate and react effectively facing a possible crisis at sea.
It should be remembered that naval cooperation between France and Morocco has its roots in 1996, the year in which the very first edition of the “Chebec” exercises was launched. Since then, these maneuvers have become an annual tradition, constantly consolidating the defense links between Rabat and Paris.
Furthermore, the latter have seen a remarkable growth in this maritime collaboration, marked by the presence of imposing warships on both sides. In 2022, the French frigate “Surcouf” and the Moroccan frigate “Allal Ben Abdellah” sailed side by side. Through these maneuvers, a wide range of naval operations is explored, encompassing the fight against air, surface and submarine threats, as well as the fight against maritime crime.
Thus, the integration of a French nuclear submarine into this year’s exercises embodies a major step forward in the history of this collaboration. This initiative offers the Moroccan navy a valuable opportunity to practice tracking submarines, particularly nuclear-powered ones. This skill is of capital importance for Morocco, wishing to strengthen its anti-submarine capabilities.
Indeed, Morocco has considerably expanded its naval arsenal by integrating three “Sigma” class warships into its fleet, all equipped with sophisticated sonars to thwart enemy submarines. In 2014, it also enriched its maritime capabilities by acquiring from France the multi-mission frigate “Mohammed VI”, one of the flagships of naval technology in this area.
That said, the Flourishing military cooperation between France and Morocco transcends the simple framework of joint exercises to take on a strategic scope of much broader scope. It illustrates the mutual determination of the two partners to consolidate the security and stability of the region. In addition, this alliance testifies to the strengthening of close and renewed relations between Rabat and Paris in the field of defense, reflecting mutual trust and a harmonious commitment in the implementation of joint security policies to face current and future threats.
