US Congress Delegation Led by Mike Rogers Pays Working Visit to Morocco

Rabat – On the High Royal Instructions, Abdeltif Loudyi, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of the National Defense Administration, received on Friday, October 16, 2026, a US Congressional delegation led by Congressman Mike Rogers, Chairman of the US House Armed Services Committee, who are on a working visit to the Kingdom.

A statement from the National Defense Administration stated that during this meeting, the two officials welcomed the excellent, centuries-old ties uniting the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America, as well as the high level of cooperation achieved in the military field, and reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating these relations.

The two officials also reviewed the state of defense cooperation, highlighted in particular by the signing last April of the 2026-2036 military cooperation roadmap, the regular meetings of the Defense Consultative Committee, the frequent exchange of visits by senior officials, and the joint organization of the large-scale annual “African Lion” exercise. Today, this exercise represents a major driver of success, enhancing the interoperability of the armed forces of participating countries, particularly African nations.

During the meeting, Loudyi praised the clear and positive support of the United States of America for the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its entire territory and the Moroccanness of the Sahara, as well as the constructive American efforts undertaken in this context to definitively resolve the dispute.

He also highlighted the various South-South cooperation and regional integration initiatives launched under the aegis and enlightened vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God glorify Him, which position the Kingdom of Morocco as a dynamic actor for shared stability and prosperity for the benefit of the African continent.

For its part, the US Congressional delegation praised the leadership of His Majesty the King, recognizing the Kingdom of Morocco as a crucial actor for stability and peace in the face of various challenges and issues impacting regional security.

At the conclusion of the talks, both parties expressed their ambition and shared desire to further consolidate this strategic partnership in the future and to strengthen the