Morocco and UK maritime cooperation advanced this week as naval divers and patrol vessels from both countries carried out a joint training exercise across the Strait of Gibraltar, strengthening operational ties between the two navies.<\/p>\n
Divers from the Royal Navy and the Royal Moroccan Navy took part in coordinated drills between Gibraltar and northern Morocco. The exercise marked the second formal training engagement involving Gibraltar based British naval units and Moroccan forces.<\/p>\n
According to the UK Royal Navy, a diving team from the Gibraltar Clearance Diving Element, accompanied by an engineer, traveled aboard HMS Dagger to Ksar Sghir Naval Base and Tangier Marina. Moroccan naval personnel received the British delegation upon arrival.<\/p>\n
Training began with a visit by Moroccan clearance divers to HMS Dagger and the Vahana class diving support vessel. British crews presented equipment and operational capabilities used by naval personnel stationed in Gibraltar.<\/p>\n
The following day, participants gathered at Ksar Sghir Naval Base, where Commodore Mounir Tamim, commander of the Royal Moroccan Navy Diving School, welcomed both teams and hosted visits to Moroccan diving facilities.<\/p>\n
A key phase of the exercise focused on underwater search and rescue operations. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Essaadi of the Royal Moroccan Navy, mixed teams of British and Moroccan divers used the Artemis Pro handheld sonar system to locate a weighted mannequin representing a missing person. A Moroccan rigid hull inflatable boat deployed the target at a random location.<\/p>\n
Despite underwater interference affecting sonar readings, the combined teams located the simulated casualty within minutes, demonstrating effective coordination and operational readiness.<\/p>\n
Chief Petty Officer Roberts, head of the Gibraltar Diving Element, said the exercise helped reinforce skills and professional relationships established during the first joint training event. He also noted that Moroccan personnel had the opportunity to evaluate equipment that could support future operational missions.<\/p>\n
The exercise included discussions involving British Defence Attach\u00e9 Lieutenant Colonel Gareth Oosterveen and senior Moroccan officers. Participants reviewed progress in bilateral naval relations and examined opportunities to expand future training programs. Discussions included the possibility of hosting Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Gibraltar for future exercises.<\/p>\n
Poor weather conditions shortened part of the deployment. Before returning, HMS Dagger and the diving support vessel conducted navigation and maneuvering drills with Royal Moroccan Navy patrol boat GC-133 under the command of Lieutenant Chana.<\/p>\n
Lieutenant Ryan Price, commanding officer of HMS Dagger, described the visit as an opportunity to deepen cooperation and improve mutual understanding between the two navies. He praised the reception provided by Moroccan counterparts and expressed support for increasing the frequency and scope of future engagements.<\/p>\n
The exercise forms part of Morocco’s broader effort to strengthen defense partnerships with Western allies and expand maritime security cooperation. It also comes as Morocco participates in Fleet Exercise 250, a major United States led multinational naval exercise in the Atlantic involving forces from 19 countries.<\/p>\n
Morocco’s growing role in international military exercises follows the completion of African Lion 2026 and the signing of a new ten year defense cooperation roadmap between Rabat and Washington covering the 2026 to 2036 period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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