US approves potential sale of Stinger Block I Missiles to Morocco worth $825 million
The US State Department has authorized the potential sale of FIM-92K Stinger Block I Missiles and related equipment to Morocco, in a move marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral military relations.
The Pentagon announced the potential arms deal valued at $825 million in an official statement published on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), an agency within the United States Department of Defense, on Tuesday.
"The State Department has decided to approve the possible sale to the Kingdom of Morocco of FIM-92K Stinger Block I missiles for foreign military purposes and related equipment for a total amount of about $825 million," the statement said.
It went on to say that the proposed sale includes advanced missile systems designed to enhance Morocco’s defense capabilities, adding that it further aligns with US efforts to bolster military cooperation across West Asia and North Africa
The statement further noted that the deal includes engineering services from the US government and contractors, logistics, and technical support.
The American-made Stinger missiles are a key component in modern air defense, providing Morocco with enhanced protection against aerial threats.
RTX Corporation will serve as the primary contractor for the transaction, it added.
Back in 2020, the administration of US President Donald Trump proposed a $1bn weapons sale to Morocco, following the country’s normalization of ties with Israel.
Morocco signed a US-brokered normalization agreement with the Tel Aviv regime in 2020, drawing condemnations from Moroccans and Palestinians who slammed the pact as a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause.
As part of the deal, the US agreed to recognize Morocco’s claim over the disputed Western Sahara region, where the Algeria-backed Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state there.
Meanwhile, Morocco reportedly inked a contract with Israel’s Elbit Systems in February to buy self-propelled artillery systems that are marketed as “battle-tested” by the notorious weapons manufacturer.
With this new agreement, which entails the purchase of 36 Atmos 2000 (Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System), Israel has become Morocco’s third-largest weapons supplier, accounting for 11 percent of its total arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
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