Pakistan and Morocco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise and expand bilateral defence and military cooperation, with the agreement also paving the way for joint manufacturing of advanced electronics and optronics.
The MoU was signed in Rabat on 13 January 2026 by Pakistan’s Federal Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and Morocco’s Minister Delegate in charge of the National Defence Administration, Abdellatif Loudyi. The agreement establishes an institutional framework for permanent military ties, with a strong focus on technology transfer, industrial joint ventures and structured cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces.
The agreement
Senior officials present at the signing included General Mohamed Berriz, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Morocco.
The agreement follows two years of high-level discussions held alongside major international defence exhibitions. Initial talks began at IDEAS in Karachi in November 2024 and continued at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi. These meetings involved representatives from Shibli Electronics and Morocco’s National Defence Administration, including Brigadier General Fouad Moumen of the Moroccan General Staff.
A central outcome of the agreement is the planned construction of a military manufacturing facility in Morocco by Shibli Electronics, a private Pakistani company specialising in thermal imaging systems. The firm is finalising an investment with a Moroccan partner to establish an industrial unit that will produce night vision systems and thermal sensors.
The project is expected to include full technology transfer and training for Moroccan engineers, allowing local teams to operate the facility independently. This marks a significant step in Morocco’s wider effort to build domestic defence manufacturing capacity rather than relying solely on imported systems.
The facility will focus on high-performance equipment already familiar to Moroccan security forces. The Royal Gendarmerie currently uses Shibli’s Tarsier Mini 50 thermal rifle scopes and SKUA thermal binoculars for border surveillance and patrol duties. The Tarsier Mini 50 is an uncooled thermal scope weighing less than 700g, designed for rapid target acquisition at ranges of up to 2,800 metres against vehicles.
Production is also expected to include the SKUA binocular range, which is designed for long-range detection in difficult environments, including smoke and fog. By localising production, Morocco aims to reduce import delays and costs while improving supply resilience for its armed forces and internal security services.
The facility is expected to serve two purposes: supplying the Royal Armed Forces and positioning Morocco as a potential supplier to the wider African defence market.
Forward thinking strategy
The move aligns with Morocco’s 2026 defence budget, which increased by 17.8%. Rabat is pursuing a strategy of greater defence independence as it seeks to reduce its heavy reliance on imported military equipment. The government has also introduced requirements for 30% local subcontracting on new defence projects, supporting the development of domestic industrial clusters.
The Shibli project follows a similar model to India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited. In September 2025, TASL opened a plant in Berrechid to assemble 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Platforms for the Moroccan military. Together, these partnerships indicate Morocco’s shift from straightforward procurement towards co-production, technology transfer and local ownership of defence capability.
Beyond industrial cooperation, the MoU also covers cybersecurity, military health and joint exercises. Morocco and Pakistan conducted counter-terrorism drills in late 2025, and the new agreement establishes a joint follow-up mechanism to coordinate future activity.
The next stage of the partnership will see Pakistani technical teams travel to Morocco to begin staff training. Officials expect the Shibli manufacturing unit to reach initial operational capacity by late 2026.
