US eyes Morocco for strategic drone hub as Africa security push deepens

The United States has announced plans to establish a regional drone training centre in Morocco as part of an intensified security engagement in Africa. Unveiled at the 13th African Land Forces Summit in Rome, the initiative will begin with a pilot drone training module during African Lion 2026 — scheduled from April 20 to May 8 — and will involve forces from 19 African nations alongside European and other international partners. More than 40 defence technology companies are expected to participate as advanced systems are embedded into live exercises across multiple Moroccan cities.

"It is about a sustainable, enduring capability that, once we prove its effectiveness, we can take to other parts of Africa," General Christopher Donahue said at the Rome summit, outlining the centre's role as a collaborative hub to strengthen intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts.

Details of the pilot and partnership goals

Military leaders described the Morocco-based centre as a testbed for technology-driven partnerships that can be scaled across the continent. The project will begin with a small group of participants during African Lion 2026 to test an operational framework designed to promote joint learning and coordinated responses to emerging threats. Donahue added that the approach allows partners "to learn from each other and to share information to solve a problem."

• Event: 13th African Land Forces Summit, Rome — where the plan was announced
• Pilot: Drone training module to be trialled during African Lion 2026 (April 20–May 8)
• Participants: Forces from 19 African nations plus European and international partners
• Industry: More than 40 defence technology companies embedding systems into live exercises

Officials framed the plan as part of a broader shift toward embedding advanced military technologies in regional defence cooperation. General Dagvin R.M. Anderson — who has visited Morocco twice since assuming command in 2025 — highlighted the economic dimensions of the security push: "Security leads to stability; that stability creates opportunities for investment; and that investment creates prosperity." Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Leonguerrero stressed the exercise’s technological ambitions: "Our goal is to close the gap between emerging technology and the warfighter."

African military leaders at the summit also pressed for wider collaboration on unmanned systems. Major General Saidu Audu cited the role of unmanned aerial vehicles in intelligence-gathering in the Lake Chad Basin and warned that "African security issues are not just African concerns." US officials said the Morocco facility could serve as a model for similar initiatives elsewhere on the continent, offering cost-effective tools to counter insurgency, terrorism, and cross-border crime. Colonel William Daniel said the summit aimed to connect African challenges with "proven, scalable solutions."

Outlook

As Morocco — a US ally whose ties with Washington date back to the 18th century — hosts the pilot, US military leaders signalled the intention to expand the concept if the programme proves effective. Lieutenant General John W. Brennan Jr. warned that "the ongoing technical revolution is relentless," urging deeper cooperation among allies. If the pilot during African Lion 2026 demonstrates operational value, officials expect the model to be replicated across other regions of Africa to strengthen regional capacities and bring technology closer to frontline operators.