New Delhi: India and Morocco have given fresh momentum to their bilateral defence cooperation with the inaugural Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in New Delhi on September 8, 2026.
The two sides discussed several areas of mutual interest, including training and education, peacekeeping operations, military exercises, medical cooperation, cyber defence and defence industries. Both countries agreed to further expand defence ties as bilateral cooperation approaches its 70th anniversary in 2027.
India and Morocco Discuss Key Areas of Defence Cooperation
The inaugural JDC meeting focused on strengthening existing defence relations and identifying new areas for cooperation.
The discussions covered:
- Training and education
- Peacekeeping operations
- Military exercises
- Military medical cooperation
- Cyber defence
- Defence industries
Both sides also agreed to explore additional avenues to deepen defence cooperation between India and Morocco.
Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani Co-Chair Meeting
The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Shri Amitabh Prasad, and Chief of the 2nd Bureau of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani.
The Indian delegation included officers and representatives from:
- Department of Defence
- Indian Armed Forces
- Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff
- Department of Defence Production
- DG Armed Forces Medical Services
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
- Ministry of External Affairs
Moroccan Delegation Visits India from September 7 to 10
The Moroccan delegation is on an official visit to India from September 7 to 10, 2026.
At the beginning of his visit, Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani paid tribute to the bravehearts at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
The Moroccan delegation also interacted with Indian defence industries at DPSU Bhawan, New Delhi, where it received first-hand exposure to India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.
India and Morocco Explore Defence Industry Cooperation
During the discussions, India and Morocco agreed to explore opportunities for greater cooperation in the defence industry.
The areas identified include:
- Co-production
- Joint ventures
- Technology collaboration
- Maintenance
- Sustainment of defence equipment
The engagement is aimed at expanding industrial cooperation and creating new opportunities for defence manufacturing and technological collaboration between the two countries.
Moroccan Delegation to Visit Army Hospital
As part of the ongoing visit, the Moroccan delegation will visit Army Hospital (Research & Referral) in New Delhi.
The visit will provide the delegation with an overview of India’s capabilities in the field of military medicine and healthcare for armed forces personnel.
Defence Cooperation MoU Signed in 2025
The latest JDC meeting follows the signing of an MoU on defence cooperation between India and Morocco during the visit of Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to Morocco in September 2025.
The visit provided fresh momentum to bilateral defence relations between the two countries.
The inaugural Joint Defence Committee meeting forms part of the institutional mechanism established through the 2025 MoU, providing a structured platform for both sides to review existing cooperation and identify new areas for collaboration.
India-Morocco Defence Cooperation to Expand Further
With India and Morocco approaching the 70th anniversary of their bilateral cooperation in 2027, both sides are seeking to further strengthen defence relations.
The JDC meeting is expected to provide a stronger institutional framework for cooperation in military training, exercises, defence production, technology, healthcare, cyber defence and other areas of mutual interest.
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