Key point: US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Moroccan armed forces signed a memorandum of understanding on 13 July 2026 to establish the Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC) in Tan-Tan . AFRICOM says phased development is planned through to 2030, including a multidomain training area, a Drone Academy, and an innovation and testing area. Media reported initial weapons tests in the area from 3 to 7 August 2026. The site is in south-westernMorocco, around 200 to 245 kilometres from Lanzarote and near the border with Western Sahara.
Established background: AFRICOM says the agreement was signed in Stuttgart and describes AMTEC as a regional training hub focused on technology and drones. The distance to the Canary Islands varies according to the points measured; reports give figures of around 200 to 245 kilometres. Spanish media reported shooting and testing activities near Tan-Tan in early August, prompting political reactions in the Canary Islands. The Canarian political group Nueva Canarias (Bloque Canarista) called on the Spanish government to provide information about potential risks and the sharing of information with allies.
Interests and impact: The project strengthens military cooperation between Morocco and the United States, as well as training and exercise capabilities in West Africa. According to AFRICOM, its aims include operational readiness and counter-terrorism. For the Canary Islands, the key point is that new technologies and ranges may be tested in close geographical proximity. Representatives of regional parties warn of further militarisation of the surrounding sea and airspace and are demanding transparency about the nature, scope and timing of activities in the area.
Attributed statements: AFRICOM and Moroccan military authorities describe AMTEC as a training, innovation and testing centre; this description comes from official statements, including those published via DVIDS. The secretary-general of Nueva Canarias, Luis Campos, publicly expressed concern about possible risks to the islands and criticised an intensification of security-related military build-up around the Canary Islands. These assessments are political positions; they demonstrate the existence of debate but are no substitute for a technical risk assessment.
Open questions: The detailed timetable for further test series, the systems to be permanently based there, and the procedures for coordination between Spain, the United States and Morocco have not been made public. No specific independent assessments of immediate threats to the Canary Islands are available so far.
Assessment: The agreement of 13 July 2026 and the plans to establish a presence in Tan-Tan are backed by official statements; reports of shooting activity in early August 2026 are gaining traction. Further official information is needed to draw reliable conclusions about risks to the Canary Islands.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).