Is this the sign of an arms race between Algeria and Morocco? According to the Algerian site Mena Défense, which was the first to reveal the death of Algerian truckers on the border with Morocco in early November 2021, the Algerian army has just acquired a Chinese electronic warfare system.
This Chinese electronic combat system is both defensive and offensive. It is responsible for neutralizing the adversary’s radars and communications. This system is also able to fight against armed drones. Morocco has indeed purchased from Turkey armed drones of the Bayraktar TB-2 type.
Read: Morocco: for what purpose does the Cherifian kingdom equip itself with drones?
Beijing arms supplier to Rabat and Algiers
The announcement of the purchase of this Chinese electronic warfare system was relayed by the Algerian press. It has not been denied by the Algerian power. This electronic warfare system is provided by two Chinese companies, ELINC and CEIC. It would be according to Mena Defense website of the first surveillance and electronic warfare system of this magnitude on the African continent.
Beijing does not only deliver military equipment to Algiers. This purchase by the Algerian army responds to another delivery of arms from China to Rabat, that of mistille batteries. Morocco has just acquired its first battery of Chinese missiles, FD-2000B. Three other batteries must be delivered according to the American magazine Defense News. In 2017, Rabat also acquired Chinese missiles, the Sky Dragon 50.
Read: Algeria – Morocco: what do their military forces weigh?
Rising military budgets
Algiers and Rabat are arguing in particular on the Sahrawi question. Morocco claims sovereignty over Western Sahara. Algiers supports the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi political and armed movement opposed to the Moroccan presence in Western Sahara.
In this context, Algeria and Morocco have just increased their military budgets for the year 2022. Morocco has thus adopted a budget for 2022 focused on economic recovery measures and marked by military expenditure in sharp rise, in a context of health crisis and regional tensions in North Africa. For the first time in the history of the Kingdom, the budget of the armed forces exceeds the bar of 50 billion dihrams, or more than 5 billion euros according to AFP.
See: Western Sahara: can tensions escalate?
Read: Western Sahara: how far can tensions between Algeria and Morocco go?
Algiers, which is the second largest arms importer on the continent behind Egypt, is not to be outdone. Algiers is discussing with Moscow to acquire S500 anti-aircraft missiles and the fourth generation of the Russian SU-57 combat aircraft. According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Algeria spent $10.334 billion on arms in 2019, compared to $9.584 billion the previous year. An increase of 7.83%
Madrid hope for diplomatic action from Washington
The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed for twenty-five years. Since the end of their diplomatic relations this summer, Algiers considers its border with Morocco as a ” highly sensitive military sector “. Tension rose between the two countries with the death in November 2021 of three Algerian truckers.
According to Algiers, they were killed by Moroccan drones near Mauritania. Rabat denies.
Read: Three Algerians killed in Western Sahara, Algiers accuses Morocco.
Algiers has also not digested the agreement between Tel Aviv and Rabat of November 24, 2021 on security issues. The Algerian daily L’Expression close to power headlined: “The Mossad at our borders”. It sums up the prevailing mood in Algiers.
Rabat must buy an Israeli system, the Skylock Dome, from the company Skylock Systems, designed to detect and neutralize drones.
This arms race is not conducive to a relaxation of relations between the two countries. Traveling to Washington, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Alabares wants Washington to find a “solution” to the crisis between Rabat and Algiers, particularly on the question of Western Sahara. Donald Trump has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The new American administration of President Biden has not yet reconsidered this recognition.