CAIRO Ñ The U.S. Defense Department plans a high-level visit to
Morocco in a drive to improve military cooperation with the North African
kingdom.
U.S. ambassador to Rabat, Margaret Tutwiler, said the Bush administration regards Morocco as a key ally in the war against terrorism.
Ms. Tutwiler said the Pentagon delegation will arrive in Morocco toward the end of February. She
said the aim of the delegation would be to explore the prospect of improved
defense and military cooperation.
In a meeting with Moroccan journalists, Ms. Tutwiler said the visit
would be part of the recommendations of a joint working group on military
cooperation between Rabat and Washington. The working group met for two days
last month and was led by U.S. Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Rodman, Middle East Newsline reported.
The U.S. ambassador said President George Bush has directed the
administration to increase U.S. military aid to Morocco. She said Washington
regards Rabat as a key ally in the war against terrorism.
In fiscal 2002, Rabat received $3.5 million in military aid from the
United States. The aid was increased to $5 million for fiscal 2003.
The Bush administration has asked Congress to allocate $10 million in
military aid for fiscal 2004. This would be the highest level of U.S.
military aid
ever proposed for Rabat.
"The United States has long-standing relations in the security field in
which we, for example, try to support Morocco's defense capability,"
Assistant Defense Secretary Peter Rodman for International Security Affairs
said during a visit to Rabat on Jan. 28. "We have, for a long time,
provided assistance in the form of equipment, training, and other forms of
cooperation in order to help strengthen Morocco. And both sides are very
conscious of common strategic interests in the region."
Arab diplomatic sources said the U.S. delegation would be led by a
general from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and focus on the
prospect of U.S. arms sales, joint training and exercises. Over the last
five years, the United States has transferred to Morocco T-37 training
aircraft.
