U.S. and Russia Back North African Military Powers in $31.7 Billion Arms Race
Morocco and Algeria are engaged in a significant arms race, with both countries increasing their military expenditures substantially. Morocco has expanded its arsenal with U.S.-supplied military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets and Apache helicopters, as part of a Western-backed modernization program. This expansion is linked to Morocco's defense ties with Israel and its status as a major non-NATO U.S. ally. Meanwhile, Algeria has received Russian Su-34M strike fighters, becoming the first foreign operator of this aircraft. Algeria's military spending, the highest in Africa, is driven by its oil and gas wealth, allowing it to sustain a large military budget. The arms race is fueled by regional tensions, including the Western Sahara dispute and the aftermath of NATO's intervention in Libya. 
