Influences
Defense: African Lion Reaches a New Dimension
For the first time, no fewer than 10,000 troops and over 40 countries are participating in the 21st edition of the annual Moroccan-American Joint Military Exercise. The focus is on emerging forms of armed threats.
The 2025 edition of African Lion, the premier annual exercise of the U.S. Africa Command, commenced on May 12 in Agadir. The exercise also extended to Tunisia and included segments in Ghana and Senegal, but it is Morocco that is hosting the largest concentration of activities for this African Lion iteration, thereby reaffirming its role as the cornerstone of regional security cooperation.
The 21st edition of AL25 is being conducted under the High Instructions of His Majesty the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), in collaboration with the FAR and U.S. Armed Forces, until May 23. Subsequent activities will take place in Ghana and Senegal. ‘With over 10,000 troops from more than 40 countries, including seven NATO allies and Israel, this year’s edition will be the largest in the exercise’s history,’ according to the U.S. Army’s statement.
The kickoff was marked by a ceremony co-chaired in Agadir by Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, and Brigadier General Daniel Cederman, Deputy Commanding General-Reserve of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force-Africa (SETAF-Africa), as reported by MAP.
AL25’s objective is to enhance interoperability, strengthen readiness, and establish strategic partnerships through ‘realistic, multi-domain training.’ The exercises, notes the U.S. Army, ‘span land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains, contributing to the shared goal of bolstering security and stability on the continent.’
‘African Lion 25 is AFRICOM’s largest multinational joint exercise in Africa. It demonstrates the Total Force’s capabilities by reinforcing strategic readiness and interoperability with our African partners and allies to deploy, fight, and win in a complex multi-domain environment,’ stated Major General Andrew C. Gainey, SETAF-AF Commanding General, on the U.S. Army’s website.
Key events include field training exercises, airborne and amphibious operations, special forces drills, and notably the rapid HIMARS insertion. The latter exercise, as with last year’s AH-64 Apache drills and earlier M1A1 Abrams tank trainings, prepares the FAR for the imminent delivery of Morocco’s order of this missile system—a true game-changer, making the Kingdom one of the few nations, and the sole in Africa, to deploy it.
New Generation of Armament
Beyond this ‘detail,’ the 2025 African Lion edition, like its predecessors, stands as a cornerstone event for regional stability, underscored by robust Moroccan and U.S. involvement. With over 10,000 personnel from 40+ nations, including seven NATO allies, AL25 is the largest iteration to date, not only in scale but also in strategic and geopolitical significance.
Countries such as Ivory Coast and Mauritania, among others, are actively participating, particularly in Senegal. This cements the exercise as a unifying platform for African states, aligning seamlessly with Morocco’s continental policy.
Notably, Algeria was invited as an observer but withdrew. The eastern neighbor had planned parallel maneuvers involving Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt, and the Polisario separatists. However, Egypt and Mauritania declined, while the Libyan faction slated to join is currently mired in renewed militia clashes. In any case, Algeria’s regional isolation is compounded here by the predominance of Russian weaponry in its military arsenal.
In short, AL25 encompasses land, air, and naval drills; CBRN decontamination exercises; cyber training; and humanitarian initiatives like medical and veterinary missions. Specific events, such as the Medical Civic Action Program, are also highlighted.
The exercise, symbolizing the strength of the Morocco-U.S. strategic alliance, includes specialized training components such as special forces exercises and technology trials like the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW). It also features a strategic planning segment with staff officer simulations aimed at improving logistical and operational coordination.
‘This edition reflects the robustness of the alliance between the FAR, the U.S. military, and partner nations, showcasing the continuous evolution of operational capabilities through this joint training framework,’ emphasized Major General Mohammed Benlouali during AL’s opening ceremony.
‘This strengthened alliance has enabled the development of skills across the diverse activities programmed throughout the exercise’s iterations,’ he added.
‘Exercises like African Lion prove that we don’t just plan together—we solve problems together, under pressure and in real time,’ stated Major Jonathan F. Alvis, SETAF-AF Logistics Planner for AL25 in Morocco.
Historical and Strategic Context
Launched in 2004, African Lion became AFRICOM’s largest joint exercise starting in 2008, having initially been a bilateral endeavor in 2007. It aims to strengthen military interoperability, crisis preparedness, and regional stability.
Morocco, a U.S. strategic partner since the 1950s and designated a major non-NATO ally in 2004, plays a central role. This edition underscores the alliance’s resilience, with U.S. military equipment sales to Morocco totaling $8.545 billion since 2013, alongside significant defense funding allocations.
