African Lion-25: Morocco & U.S. Start Annual Military Exercise, Demonstrating Enduring Partnership

U.S. and Royal Moroccan Armed forces started this Monday the Morocco portion of African Lion 25,the largest annual joint military exercise on the African continent,with training events beginning this week across multiple regions of the Kingdom of Morocco.

African Lion 25 (AL25) demonstrates the enduring strategic military partnership between Morocco and the United States,said the US Africa Command in a press release.

The exercise features joint operations involving ground,air,and combined staff components,designed to strengthen regional security,promote interoperability,and build readiness across allied and partner forces.

“Exercise African Lion 25 exemplifies the robust and enduring defense partnership between the United States and Morocco,showcasing our shared commitment to regional stability and security,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Seward Matwick,the defense attaché for U.S. Embassy Rabat. “Through this joint effort,we enhance our operational readiness and strengthen the bonds of cooperation with our Moroccan counterparts and other participating nations.”

This year’s Morocco-based activities include field training exercises (FTX),a planning exercise (PLANEX),and live-fire drills,along with humanitarian and academic exchanges focused on enhancing multinational coordination and operational effectiveness.

Morocco is hosting the largest concentration of activities for this iteration of African Lion,reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of regional security cooperation. This military exercise further deepens the U.S.-Morocco defense partnership through the National Guard’s State Partnership Program,which will play a direct role in the humanitarian civic assistance exchange during this year’s drill.

Participating nations include Cameroon,Cape Verde,Djibouti,France,Gambia,Ghana,Guinea-Bissau,Hungary,Israel,Kenya,Netherlands,Nigeria,Portugal,the United Kingdom,and the United States.

“Morocco is a strategic partner that for the last 21 years has been the primary host for Exercise African Lion,their steadfast support,multinational inclusion,and unwavering support make the exercise successful year after year. They remain a vital and trusted partner in our shared pursuit of stability and security in the region,” said Eldridge Browne,Chief of Exercises for SETAF-AF. “African Lion showcases how we train,deploy,and operate together as a combined and joint all domain force.”

The drils,to take place in the regions of Agadir,Tan-Tan,Tiznit,Kenitra,Benguerir,and Tifnit,feature parallel humanitarian and social actions.