India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh kicked off a landmark two-day visit to Morocco on Sunday, becoming the first Indian defence chief to step foot in the North African nation. He landed at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, where local military leaders and India’s Ambassador to Morocco, Sanjay Rana, greeted him with full honors.
The warm reception didn’t stop there—members of Morocco’s Indian community, led by the President of the Indian Association, showed up in big numbers to welcome Singh, highlighting the strong people-to-people bonds between the two countries.
This trip comes at the invitation of Abdeltif Loudiyi, Morocco’s Minister Delegate for National Defence. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Embassy in Rabat shared: “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, on a bilateral visit. He was warmly received by senior government and military officials, Ambassador Sanjay Rana, and members of the Indian community.”
A major highlight? Singh will inaugurate Tata Advanced Systems’ new manufacturing facility in Berrechid for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8. This plant marks a huge milestone—it’s the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing site in Africa, boosting India’s growing global presence in the defence industry.
Singh himself called it a game-changer. In an X post, he wrote: “Tomorrow, 21st September, I shall be in Morocco. There is a growing strategic convergence between India and Morocco. Looking forward to further strengthening the growing relationship. During my visit, I will hold a bilateral meeting with my counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi. A key highlight of the visit will be the inauguration of Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8 at Berrechid. This facility is the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, which marks an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of India’s defence industry. I will also interact with the Indian community in Rabat.”
On the agenda, Singh plans a key bilateral meeting with Loudiyi to discuss defence ties. He’ll also connect with the Indian diaspora in Rabat, fostering even closer community links.
The visit could seal a big deal too: India and Morocco expect to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation. This agreement will create a solid framework for deeper ties, including expert exchanges, joint training, and stronger industrial partnerships in the defence sector.
Indian Navy ships have made regular stops at Casablanca ports in recent years, and this MoU will build on that momentum. Overall, India-Morocco relations have picked up steam since King Mohammed VI’s 2015 meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India. Experts say Singh’s trip will inject new energy into this partnership, especially in defence and strategic areas.
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