Spain has confirmed that it will not participate in the military maneuvers organized by the American and Moroccan armies, African Lion 2022, which will take place from June 20 to July 1 in Morocco and other African countries.
Organized by the United States and Africom (US Africa Command), African Lion 2022 will start in the coming days in Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal and Ghana. Like last year, Spain announced that it will not participate in these military exercises, Defense Ministry sources told Público.
Spain had missed last year’s edition which should take place among other places in the Sahara, an option which was finally ruled out by the United States. The choice of the Sahara had been retained a few months after the announcement, in December 2020, of American recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
Morocco attaches particular importance to the military event organized with its American partner. Thus, the African Lion 2022 will take place in the regions of Kenitra, Agadir, Tan-Tan, Taroudant, Ben Guerir and in Mehbes, near the border with Algeria. But the official Africom site only mentions Moroccan cities.
More than 7,500 soldiers from Brazil, Chad, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Morocco, and the United States will participate in these military maneuvers which take place in the context of the crisis between Spain and Algeria.
