French arms manufacturers wish to reap the dividends from President Emmanuel Macron’s support for the Moroccan character of the Sahara. In the wake of the next state visit of the current tenant of the Élysée Palace to the kingdom, they wish to make their big return to the Moroccan market. “Two files are in serious discussions (helicopters and submarines),” revealed Tuesday, October 15, the daily La Tribune.
“Airbus Helicopters and Morocco are negotiating a major order for Caracal, the number of which could reach up to 18 aircraft (12 for the air force and 6 for the gendarmerie), i.e. a contract estimated between 600 and 800 million euros,” announces the French media.
Indeed, we have to go back to 2013 to find such a sum, with 682.9 million euros in orders concluded after the state visit of former President François Hollande to Morocco, including in particular the construction of two spy satellites.
Since then, the figures have been rather at half mast, with the exception of 2020 and its €407.4 million. A year marked by the working visit of the former Minister of Defense, Ms. Florence Parly, to Rabat. She had held discussions with the Minister Delegate in charge of the National Defense Administration and the former Inspector General of the FAR.
On the other hand, for other years, the contracts signed with the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) fell short of the expectations of French professionals. This is evidenced by the data from the 2023 report on French arms exports, given to deputies: €91.9 million in 2014, €111.8 million in 2015, €170.4 million in 2016, €51 million in 2017, 75 €.8 million in 2018, €199.4 million in 2019, €111.6 million in 2021 and €145 million in 2022.
The upcoming visit of President Emmanuel Macron to the kingdom has also revived the ambitions of Naval Group wishing to conclude agreements with the Royal Moroccan Navy. The manufacturer aims to sell “two submarines and the construction of a submarine”, underlines La Tribune.
As a reminder, as part of the Chebec 2024 naval exercise, organized from October 7 to 13 between Morocco and France, the French navy mobilized a nuclear attack submarine for the first time.
