New Delhi: India and Morocco on Tuesday held their first Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in New Delhi, giving fresh momentum to bilateral defence cooperation as the two countries prepare to mark the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2027.
The inaugural meeting focused on expanding cooperation in areas including military training and education, peacekeeping operations, joint exercises, medical cooperation, cyber defence and defence industries.
The meeting was co-chaired by Amitabh Prasad, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence, and Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani, Chief of the 2nd Bureau of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces.
The Indian delegation included representatives from the three armed services, Integrated Defence Staff, Department of Defence Production, DRDO, Armed Forces Medical Services and the Ministry of External Affairs.
During the visit, the Moroccan delegation also interacted with Indian defence industries at DPSU Bhawan to gain first-hand exposure to India’s expanding defence manufacturing capabilities.
Both sides agreed to explore greater cooperation in co-production, joint ventures, technology collaboration, maintenance and sustainment, signalling a broader focus on defence industrial partnerships.
The Moroccan delegation is visiting India from September 7 to 10. Brig Gen Athmani began the visit by paying homage to fallen Indian soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
The delegation is also scheduled to visit the Army Hospital (Research & Referral) to learn about India’s military medicine capabilities.
The latest JDC meeting is part of an institutional mechanism established under an MoU on defence cooperation signed during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Morocco in September 2025.
The MoU had provided fresh impetus to defence relations between the two countries, with Tuesday’s meeting further strengthening the institutional framework for cooperation.
With both sides seeking to expand defence-industrial and military ties, the JDC is expected to provide a regular platform for identifying new areas of strategic cooperation.
