Europa pide apoyo a los servicios de inteligencia en Marruecos para luchar contra el terrorismo
The fight against international terrorism weaves its networks between Europe and North Africa. Various French media revealed on Monday that several European countries, including France, Spain and Belgium, wish to strengthen their cooperation with Morocco in the field of intelligence in order to work together in operations against international terrorism.
The media outlet Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia reported that these European countries wish to reduce the movement of Jihadist fighters from one continent to another. In addition to strengthening cyber-security systems and the rapid exchange of information between countries.
Europe considers it very urgent to put an end to the Islamic extremism that threatens the security of both continents. This requires strengthening cooperation with Morocco, whose approach to combating terrorism is essential in the segment of international cooperation.
Internet surveillance figures, according to media sources quoted by Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia, are at the top of the list of priorities for security cooperation plans between European countries and Morocco to tackle what are now known as "lone wolves". The latter are considered to be the greatest threat to the European continent following Daesh's military defeat in Syria and Iraq.
The Moroccan daily cites as an example the support given by Nice Matin, which states that Morocco has proved on several occasions that it is a major partner for France in terms of security and intelligence cooperation. According to the Nice media, France has used the information provided by Morocco to neutralise various dangers and threats.
To illustrate this security cooperation between the two countries, Nice Matin recalls that in 2015 Moroccan intelligence managed to locate the terrorists barricaded in a flat in Saint-Denis. Furthermore, Moroccan intelligence agents have travelled on several occasions to Paris and Brussels to assist in the ongoing investigations following the attacks on Paris in 2015.
During October various French delegations travelled to the Alaouite kingdom to seal and consolidate the commitments of yesteryear that will enable both countries to continue to maintain their hegemony in both Europe and North Africa.
Rabat and Paris reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation in security matters, especially in terms of exchanging intelligence, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.
The two countries intensified "their judicial cooperation, as well as joint efforts against illegal migration and all kinds of trafficking, also against terrorist activities", as they reported in October after talks in Rabat between the Moroccan interior minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, and his French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin.
These relations are very interesting for France, which is seeing the intensity of relations with Morocco weakened by the presence of the United States. Over the past five years Morocco has reduced its arms purchases from the French country by 62 percent.
France used to be Morocco's biggest arms supplier, but now the tables have turned. Following the issuing of the collaboration communiqué, the Moroccan and French officials expressed their satisfaction with the co-operation between departments and agreed to strengthen this relationship further at regional and multilateral level.
Relations between Morocco and France continue to be strengthened. France is Morocco's second largest trading partner and the leading foreign direct investor in the last 15 years. Almost 1,000 French companies operate in the Kingdom and employ almost 100,000 people.
