Marruecos dobla su presupuesto de Defensa/ Morocco doubles defense spending in arms race with Algeria

Consultores de Estados Unidos afirman que Marruecos ha entrado en una carrera armamentística con su vecino, Argelia.
El presupueto de Defensa de Marruecos se ha doblado en el periodo
2005-2009. Este esfuerzo ha sido visto como un intento de mantener el equilibrio de fuerzas con Argelia.
Argelia y Marruecos han incrementado sus esfuerzos en la compra de aviones y buques.
Marruecos ha comprado F-16 y aviones de entrenamiento T-6A de Estados Unidos, así como fragatas de Holanda modernos equipos de comunicaciones occidentales.
Argelia ha comprado cazas Su-30 y entrenadores Yak-130, así como carros de combate T-90 por valor de 8.000 millones de dólares a Rusia, financiados por fondos procedenes del petróleo.
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A U.S. consultant said the North African kingdom has entered an arms race with neighboring Algeria. Morocco and South Africa have become the leading spenders on defense over the last five years.
Morocco's defense budget doubled in size between 2005 and 2009. This development comes as the government supports a series of new arms acquisitions that will allow the country to maintain a balance of power with neighboring Algeria.
Algeria and Morocco have leveraged economic gains to acquire new aircraft and warships.
Over the last three years, Morocco has ordered the F-16 multi-role fighter and T-6A air trainer from the United States as well frigates from the Netherlands. Rabat was also said to have procured advanced communications and security systems from Western defense majors.
In 2006, Algeria launched an $8 billion military modernization project headed by Russia. The Algerian project has included the procurement of the Su-30 fighter, Yak-130 air trainer and T-90 main battle tank.
Forecast said Algeria's defense projects were financed from energy revenues.
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