Algeria Maintains Dominance in African Military Spending; Morocco Emerges as Top Arms Importer. Algiers, Algeria — Algeria remains at the forefront of military spending in Africa, witnessing a substantial 11% increase in expenditures in 2025, while Morocco has ascended to become the continent’s leading arms importer. This trend, fueled by a strategic pivot towards technological military advancements, reflects the intensifying rivalry between the two North African nations.
Nut Graf: The escalating military competition between Algeria and Morocco, stemming from their enduring dispute over the Western Sahara, has led to a significant hike in arms spending across the region, prompting concerns over regional stability and economic implications for both nations. Algeria’s military spending surged to $25. 4 billion in 2025, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
This expenditure accounted for 25% of the government’s overall budget, the second-highest globally, following Ukraine. Morocco’s military spending, while less than Algeria’s, saw a 6. 6% increase, securing its position as the second-largest military spender in Africa.
4 billion and $16. 1 billion, highlighting its commitment to modernizing its military capabilities.
The arms race between Algeria and Morocco is primarily driven by their long — standing territorial dispute over the Western Sahara. Morocco, with close ties to the United States and Western Europe, procures arms predominantly from the U. S.
(60%), Israel (24%), and France (10%).
The United States has expressed concern over Algeria’s arms deals with Russia, with some senators calling for sanctions against the Algerian regime.
The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) allows the U. S. To impose sanctions on entities engaging in significant transactions with Russia’s defense and intelligence sectors.
The implications of this arms race are multifaceted. It raises concerns about regional stability and security, as increased military spending could exacerbate tensions between Algeria and Morocco. Moreover, the high levels of military spending in both countries could have long-term economic consequences, diverting resources from social development and other critical sectors.
The ongoing arms race between Algeria and Morocco underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the underlying issues contributing to the escalation of military spending.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: moroccoworldnews
Source: Safaa Kasraoui
