“AMTEC is the culmination of decades of collaboration between Morocco and the United States,” Col. Michael Gacheru says, describing the memorandum of understanding signed July 13 in Stuttgart as “a new chapter built on shared resources and joint progress.”

The future center, to be established in Tan-Tan, forms part of a long-term effort to strengthen the strategic partnership between Rabat and Washington, with regional stability as its overarching objective.

Beyond its military dimension, AMTEC is intended to become “a driver of economic growth and technological advancement” for Morocco and the African continent. Through a drone academy and an innovation and experimentation center, the project aims to bring together an ecosystem that includes armed forces, universities, startups, and the defense industry to develop and test cutting-edge technologies.

At a time of growing security threats across the Sahel and West Africa, the initiative also seeks to foster African-led responses to shared challenges.

“The objective is to enable African partners to provide for their own security,” the US official says, describing AMTEC and the opportunities presented by African Lion 2027 as a way to establish Morocco as a regional hub for innovation and strategic cooperation.

Morocco and the United States have maintained close military cooperation for decades. How does the creation of the African Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC) represent a new phase in this strategic partnership, and what long-term impact do you expect it to have on regional security in Africa?

AMTEC is the culmination of decades of collaboration between Morocco and the United States. It is a partnership built on shared resources that serves as an example of peace through strength, shared responsibility, and joint industrial and technological progress. Our shared objective of creating a stable environment that fosters prosperity is the foundation of this new chapter.

AMTEC will include a Drone Academy and an Innovation and Experimentation Center. Beyond military cooperation, what opportunities will this project create for Moroccan universities, researchers, startups and Morocco’s rapidly expanding defense industry?

AMTEC is not just a military tool; it is a future engine of economic growth and technological advancement for Morocco, the United States and the broader region. The center will provide an ideal environment for the defense, technology and academic sectors of both countries to test, evaluate and improve emerging technologies by integrating experts and academic institutions alongside military operators in multidisciplinary design teams to promote innovation and collaboration.

One of AMTEC’s objectives is to train Moroccan personnel as well as personnel from other African partner countries. In your view, how will this initiative help promote African-led solutions to common counterterrorism and security challenges, particularly in the Sahel and West Africa?

Today, the epicenter of global terrorism is in Africa. Terrorist groups do not recognize national borders, making partnerships and coordination essential in addressing these shared threats.

AMTEC will provide a collaborative environment where trusted relationships and capabilities can be developed, enabling African nations to secure their own territory and prevent terrorist groups from expanding, recruiting, and conducting operations.

The Drone Academy will allow African countries to work together, both as learners and as instructors, to strengthen their capabilities in small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) at both the national and regional levels to address emerging threats.

To reinforce African-led solutions, the Innovation and Experimentation Center will incorporate lessons learned from current conflicts to jointly develop and test emerging technologies, with a focus on counterterrorism and regional security solutions that are low-cost, scalable, and easily deployable.

African Lion 2027 is expected to serve as a proof of concept for AMTEC by testing systems integrating artificial intelligence, autonomous platforms, and advanced communications technologies. How do you see these emerging technologies transforming military cooperation between the United States and Morocco, and what role do you envision for Morocco in driving innovation across Africa?

AMTEC is not just a military tool; it is a future engine of economic growth and technological advancement for Morocco and the region. Morocco’s ability to host such a facility is demonstrated by its existing infrastructure and the expertise of its personnel.

Morocco and US Africa Command have built a strong relationship over many years through a durable partnership and sustained security cooperation. Morocco has hosted several major US military exercises, including African Lion, Africa’s largest joint military exercise, which has been held for more than 22 years and brings together 28 African nations.

AMTEC further strengthens Morocco’s position as a regional security leader by providing training and innovation opportunities for other African countries while offering industry a reliable and capable partner for joint innovation projects and export opportunities. This initiative opens the door to developing new capabilities across the region in support of both security and economic development.

AMTEC is also expected to create new opportunities for cooperation between American and Moroccan industries in innovation, technology testing, and exports. What message does this agreement send about the United States’ long-term commitment to Morocco as a trusted strategic partner and a future regional hub for defense and technology innovation?

Since the earliest days of US history, our two nations have shared a common commitment to peace. AMTEC reflects our shared determination to continue that cooperation.

It will provide a dedicated environment for testing advanced multidomain operations and emerging technologies designed to strengthen the security of both our countries while fostering technological development and economic growth.